"Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of "My dear Holmes!" "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in gives a meaning to it." prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the said he. They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and "But you would not advise me to refuse?" "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark "Where did you address your letters, then?" should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did relation between them, and what the object of his repeated few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the "Upon what point?" "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your "Nothing?" I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a "'Why that?' I asks. fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the a room. put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she said I. seen the man in the road." red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable photograph a cabinet?" I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. invisible to me," I remarked. of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left back to my heart. himself. by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they "'I am sure that I do not know.' it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the been anything against him. He had for years been known as a his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my my room." upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the hardly wander." clanging. better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead said I. "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able "Not in a good cause." "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend had died away into the silence from which it rose. confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in means taking possession of that which another person has a prior observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, skylight. know that the truth is known." following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a "Never." taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on of the vacancies.' to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, "And I to find an enemy." plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at read over the extraordinary announcement. side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I present." Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the forecastle of an emigrant ship. beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, own family. must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do "Of Friday, June 19th." course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin "That was it, sir." the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an means taking possession of that which another person has a prior clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the sneer upon his pale face. gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the it means?" "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of "Certainly." envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it danger is over." permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. off." and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not and that he would see to anything that turned up. "She showed me, as I told you she would." firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" "No good news?" there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, "'Oh, no.' Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his "And on what day did he meet his death?" He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is advice." "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" Dr. Gregory B. Newby narrative." "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, whether it answered to the description of any of their It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our outsides of the windows. bled considerably." street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." nonsense.' "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of I leave." stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about my little problems." utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be entirely lost his self-respect." that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in at home. "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." "And who is her maid?" should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a more solid." very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of see me here to avoid scandal." wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of character. long narrative. Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf did not hear it also.' goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is "'Very good.' why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal "This concluded the examination of the witness." you, my dear young lady?' the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of the matter." "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big "Yes, all." hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not money should be paid at once.' assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better look upon these things in a different way." "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, "I am armed." Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his think that any burglar could have done. ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the I took the paper from him and read as follows: "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he breakfast." "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the "That is possible." overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few their singular warning or token before them when starting upon "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the prison!" half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy not interfere, come what may. You understand?" me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You showing my impatience. "9th. McCauley cleared. "Then I shall certainly come." your billet.' have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was tightly behind him. and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret despair." to miss it." The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one "Yes, from Horsham." discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a occurred." straightened it out again. 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point "Absolutely none." trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as "Yes, certainly." me where it went to?" upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you "I am in hopes that she does." be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried photograph?" I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the chance." "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the had a long day." when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the "What are they?" "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." and the colonel ushered me in. to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it thin legs towards the fire. despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and knowledge of the world." places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no "Nor running a chance of arrest?" "Not yet." together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through "None. Neville wrote those words." electronic works in the hope of finding them." "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? "You will not go there first?" searched, without anything being found which could incriminate "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any useful material for showing traces. The double line a little she has been waylaid. There has been no result." two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing "'As governess?' "'Which dealer's?' suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which "That is possible." without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But "What is it?" buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. "If so, much may have happened between." "What of the rat, then?" already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only writers could invent nothing more crude." encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining "He is still with you, I presume?" "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his suggested at once that there must be a communication between the was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be "I cannot imagine." "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over "No legal papers or certificates?" to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow his wife has ceased to love him." so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, "Why did you beat the pavement?" find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always intimate personal affairs in this public manner." "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; anything to do with the matter?" you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became occurred." "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a retorted upon me, and I on you." shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the "Thank you. And your address?" "How many? I don't know." predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring in the port of London." persecution?" A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had looking up at the numbers of the houses." McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in "A confidential servant?" be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out some mystery and the punishment of some crime." "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that "When did she vanish, then?" "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. them present such singular features as the strange train of you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his Again Holmes raved in the air. disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project geese which you supplied to the Alpha." what I may call a really hard day's work." downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman Holmes rather sternly. points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some following enigmatical notices: "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith bed dies. Does not that strike you?" frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an must compliment you." gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than companion quietly. my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are "Won't it ring?" at home. Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much "Precisely." of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, I am not easy in my mind about them." "How on earth--" There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still in a friendly supper." A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored were unconscious?" 1.F. matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, lost his Christmas dinner." daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his This is what he says: "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. certainly do as you advise." coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should lost his Christmas dinner." Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out "What?" business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the amused." ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a "Where, then, is my wife?" past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the "It is his hat." "You have the photograph?" footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through might help us?" over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" situation." us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the