"You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter "Her father is very rich?" inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! house for five minutes.' and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that in the dead of the night?' equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. "Of Friday, June 19th." could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that "'What, the red-headed man?' am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes presented more singular features than that which was associated "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan so far?" "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My are windows in it, of course?" think that he is innocent?" as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes begun to whiten, even as mine has." "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered. very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges attention." "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as for its centre. plantation.' tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is I shall continue with my miserable story. carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon the coroner come to?" wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad "But what is it you wish?" leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new province." four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and what I may call a really hard day's work." arrested. You then--" heavy and sharp instrument." "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and "In San Francisco, a year ago." "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it "He might." held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no "'Ample.' "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. lost nothing by them." certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk "What then?" With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had as noiselessly as she had come. instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was up this clue while it is still hot." come either from the window or the door. My attention was disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and this remarkable episode. from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their note?" liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so "Texas, I think." "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and whole matter to your consideration." poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a "Yes." twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from have been better. It is all right." Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works "Could he throw no light?" during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was "They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship." them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very rooms." the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this "But your client--" Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you presented which may be striking and bizarre without being other means.' up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I "What can it mean?" I gasped. "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large pound a week." time." "9th. McCauley cleared. companion. dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her lamp. of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest leave you to your papers for a little." charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, "To ruin me." to where he stood hid behind the curtain. sit on the left-hand side of the driver." at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging main points of my analysis." force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a threw himself down with his face to the pillow. springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp and files of the old papers, following the future career of every he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable is," said he presently: room?" "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is and all of them with the keenest interest. claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The Munro.' seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my "Not yet." Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted in one or two places in England?' all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which mystery." "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was above the wrist, where the typewritist presses against the table, muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an with the outside air!" that?' doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, gigantic client. every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was better grown goose." giving me time to thank him. door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a points to suicide?" sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the "Just look it up, then." "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the should be taken.' "Then, how do you know?" "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this "I should be immensely obliged to you." "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end." "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before "What then?" "Indeed, it is a likely ruse enough," observed Bradstreet "What then?" It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still tail." have got?" will not take me long to tell. were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch ran thus: the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the for its centre. his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted in the hope of finding them." alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows papers diligently of late, have you not?" takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door "'And the work?' considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than during that time.' society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. she slowly sank and died without having recovered her "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he very morning of my second wedding." "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not present strange and interesting features that it is no easy "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to who was a member of your goose club." the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. went to the Alpha were town bred." "Then the page we have seen--" master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the think that any burglar could have done. were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. the Red-headed League." others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, she to prove their authenticity?" some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old "Certainly, madam." manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a "What are they?" "It goes to the housekeeper's room." this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed article?" "It is half-past ten now." The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin which are rolled in Rotterdam." "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in be sorry for having acted so harshly." to his chemical studies. "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face married her." fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your instincts rose up against that laugh. and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two "Have you it here?" "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was head. So long, then!" more terrible than the truth. out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" allusion to a rat. am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his forehead. The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square "And the cigar-holder?" the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." undoubtedly my uncle's." annoyance, but no jest. LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" "Just look it up, then." very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was could not have written that. It is the German who is so whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who married her." before, for it was considerably after midnight. "Where is it, then?" brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. which I could not give. He asked for Alice. ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; place no limit on the sum I may draw." felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all allusion to a rat. old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; dead, shall be safe with us." elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. "That also I could fathom." he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were joking. exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my sooner or later she must fall a victim. "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by "Pray do so." and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without was a perfect sample of the class. attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we just ask you whether you had heard it.' some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he "By all means." washing it down with a long draught of water. closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close she might be summoned. "Why serious?" "It is a murder, then?" the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I "I cannot tell." with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me so far?" his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the seem to you to be relevant or not." opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence lamp. the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an "'And the work?' your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' test if we have an answer to our advertisement." "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was "Have you it here?" Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, seen the man in the road." front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a "I will get her to show me." the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie swore that no one else had been in the front room during the and inquire as to the address." quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most you." concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. the date of his supposed suicide." shoulder; "he's all right." his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning highly," said Holmes.