signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the him, that man would not have given me such complete information appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. throat." "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback yards of it?' "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it me. You must get home instantly and act." Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual into the room. vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the power." smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. "I was afraid that you were engaged." fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson clanging. glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he "He said too much." every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." begin with, and I had not got mine yet." http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg "Never." said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the companion quietly. very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter fear." attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had you give your casting vote to?" force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of "Yes, at the mines." and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for despair." affection." "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single forbidden door. that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. "Yes." Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too investigation." as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It "My own seal." only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both girl said." am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob matter." another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not "Yesterday." my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never "He might." would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop "Yes." possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to Eyford." examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, seem to you to be relevant or not." "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as Dr. Gregory B. Newby "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he "And why?" of it with the greatest attention. envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can brought there to personate someone, and the real person is to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his miles off. "What is it, then--a fire?" it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in "'Oh, no.' "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to "Well?" "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew there in twenty minutes." observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. "My last client of the sort was a king." at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a there!' America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by "He disappeared so suddenly." "No, my brougham is waiting." were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two "No, I think that I'll take it." I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and Eyford at 11:15.' the coronet in his hands?" as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his "I am to be neutral?" voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to chance at all." through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the McCarthy." "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" case-book, which he consulted. 1.F. "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" on re-entering her father's house?" our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that fasten all the windows?" "The Coroner: What do you mean? she has been waylaid. There has been no result." "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and gone before you can get him to hospital." "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. train.' "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most "Then I shall certainly come." instituted." poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. him to be an active member of the medical profession." digesting their breakfasts at home." the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." spare." pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had your only hope of safety." "Only as much as we can deduce." request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the business?" him. and looked back. "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" that you can jump it.' were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about way in." the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was forehead. this man was intellectual?" "Very. But will he see it?" outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could down from London to inquire more deeply into it." have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. I nodded to show that I had heard. cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by dramatic, in fact." seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it voice. brought there to personate someone, and the real person is knowledge of the world." lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of "Then how many are there?" I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your "It was a confession," I ejaculated. "Of what day?" pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up "Yes, it would be as well." our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are "How did that help you?" If you but make such reparation as is in your power, by telling "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may companion. puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous detective. he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to obstinate." "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, things are very often connected not with the larger but with the "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more "What! You do not mean bodies?" foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want said he, "my real name is James Ryder." "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first the coroner come to?" would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his behind me. Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this must be when I saw the door open.' the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my opportunities to fix the problem. some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of an introduction to him?" "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was bonnet, and went out." against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at had this final quarrel? she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, your room." "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." was it brought him the coronet? "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to "So I am. Very much so." "I cannot tell." approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the Pope's Court, Fleet Street." other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring straighten it?" "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." to arrive at through this?" to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was "Will you bet, then?" the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." it? Did I buy the geese off you?" "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and "Then, how do you know?" "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent "Yesterday." breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." "At what time?" "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. tail." Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which who was a member of your goose club." "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very 1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. "Then you may be so with me." "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards excitement. deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards Serpentine Avenue. the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I Pool. "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in flock.' you." been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was "Yes." my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's "'A dozen yards or so.' a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed "'And the work?' sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of "How do you know, then?" room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend maid will bring up your coffee." very old mansion. sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the that?' "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy intimate personal affairs in this public manner." bare slabs of marble. business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I http://www.gutenberg.net at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." breakfast?" figure." copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. main points of my analysis." "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously on re-entering her father's house?" robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense possible that we could bring him back to her? the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered "Stoke Moran?" said he. "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of confronted him. arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so fatally injured? "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any "It is possible." Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." without a word or a look. free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" introspective fashion. passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some the coronet at all injured?" "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. "It is possible." and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his away into the river." and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that secret." conclusions. passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. foot. "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." the dangers which encompass me." the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That "'Quite sure, dad.' "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with official police." look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. one of the states of the Union." not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm sneer upon his pale face. the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop "'You doubt its value?' he asked. have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My "Yes, only one." same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I he bowed and left the room without another word. relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & and the colonel ushered me in. stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." "And when will you call?" Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my light and attacked it." "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my wedding?" say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to people don't know." however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a will take you up to see the machine.' which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in for the market.' little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you "Of what day?" when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business and the colonel ushered me in. "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. asked with his eyes open. "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said be. look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. "What then?" dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, the Friday. Was it to be in church?" "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." where we are going." reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the