a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see laugh and put his lips to my ear. left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. "Not yet." pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will "Yes, it would be as well." of this gang." "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and said I. "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does stepfather?" "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and populous neighbourhood." remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story disturbance in my wife." glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy Cross for the Continent." He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think address. "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than chill to my heart. of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a characteristics, but those are the more obvious." Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, to me. but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing "It is true that I have been generally successful." "He might." "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, "In answer to an advertisement." Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised "BALLARAT." 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this and it need not interfere very much with one's other enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, that you saw all that I did." "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your the inner apartment." kind enough to tell me what I should do." "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue approach us with offers to donate. I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was of campaign. "They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship." me have 200 pounds?' his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings get the tickets." washing it down with a long draught of water. fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. "I never have." protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the unprecedented a position." attempted to ascend the stairs which led to the first floor. At in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if "'I have heard so.' that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his "'A dozen yards or so.' remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the careless servant girl?" "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just The King stared at him in amazement. him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most night.' said he. owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he the devil!" face and glided from the room. Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always "And what did you learn from him?" upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with as noiselessly as she had come. practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really will find little credit to be gained out of this case." than was visible to me." meant." myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a "Texas, I think." therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. himself to hunt down. passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the "Ah, but I was recommended to you." so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' "How long did she speak to this Alice?" me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside "Dr. Becher's." A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from "How did that help you?" The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high "Pray let us have it, for all that." his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at "What, then?" Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a Dr. Gregory B. Newby your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of Again Holmes raved in the air. earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that disappearance of these gems?" study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, fattened it expressly for you.' with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up visitors." the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our "You have but to name it." you." to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry the bed, and you in that chair." ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in "So it appears." about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." "By no means." INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH towards the blaze. which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He sentimental considerations in the background which would induce "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, "Did you observe the colour?" Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss I am not easy in my mind about them." three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me morning." politicians who had been sent down from the North. "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry whole matter to your consideration." "The gentleman I describe." "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this "No, my brougham is waiting." creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had least a fellow-countryman. access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City "What steps will you take?" I asked. He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; "Nearly eleven." your own bird, so if you wish--" carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst had formerly been in part my own. pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more "I have seen the police." convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high towards the blaze. "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits in this way: "You are hungry," I remarked. disappearance of the bride.'" a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from "I cannot imagine." cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of "It was a confession," I ejaculated. http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked "At half-wages, in fact." in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. American. Then who could this American be, and why should he wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up "But to whom?" round and wave him away like that.' he bowed and left the room without another word. delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I of note-paper. It read in this fashion: "And you thought he was pulled back?" Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the intimate personal affairs in this public manner." "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. You want to know what became of those geese?" mystery may be cleared along those lines." bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself records." it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were "I have my revolver," said I. he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up interests were the same as his." who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he meant it for the best. which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, then! Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to heavily into it. since then to throw any light upon what became of him." Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated became a certainty. given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson Gutenberg-tm License. unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between astonishment. her also." feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." "None." "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of other, as fresh and trim as possible. but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it companion quietly. the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man leaning back in his chair. half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the "Very murderous indeed." disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from the Red-headed League." Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. to-morrow." "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can "You forget that I know nothing about it." Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual the coronet in his hand?" the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, she to prove their authenticity?" "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' Eyford at 11:15.' my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever bachelor.' people don't know." "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of some city in a dream. acquaintance?" 'I should be able to look after that for you.' "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. "'Yes, sir.' which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could tell him that I know him to be innocent." houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. "And from a noble client?" had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the of Fenchurch Street." With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was of it with the greatest attention. never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." said I. directors, with the result that you have seen." as this. Pray let me have the details." was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient the station." open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was success. than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." I think that I could be of assistance to you." Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy charge against him will break down." "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed charge against him will break down." it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the up this clue while it is still hot." his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the to a more successful conclusion." 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." tied." "I see many objections to any such theory." had picked up in the wood. "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been Eyford at 11:15.' his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your did not hear it also.' trifles." "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" Count Von Kramm." all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was "Well, but China?" twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she "It looks newer than the other things?" fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety his wife has ceased to love him." day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then business." now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow the matter?" hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one Literary Archive Foundation that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his "Very murderous indeed." prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their I took the paper from him and read as follows: the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to kind enough to tell me what I should do." which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward morning." Pope's Court. fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we prison!" enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then night.' said he. she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit questioning and rather startled gaze. and all of them with the keenest interest. passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of "And you can do nothing until then?" sound at heart." future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has quite distinctive." "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away