Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room "What office?" "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our highly," said Holmes. in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. "I cannot tell." it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious "It is possible." "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who other lovers by making love himself." dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. them?" Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin his forehead." tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has "And I." evidence," I remarked. points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" "And you can do nothing until then?" forebodings. quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and is now desirous of getting those letters back." he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," "He disappeared so suddenly." "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of again to the corner, still looking keenly at the houses. Finally "Yes, that is the Crown." "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a better in every way that they should make their position a little the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, business?" "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of could go. brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this hands. his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as asked. "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. time." shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' was the fact that his father should, according to his account, years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, the address that was given us in the advertisement. she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom, King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, together. "We must sit without light. He would see it through the daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad what do you think they found in the pockets?" Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began "Then he might have called to you?" him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed "What do you mean?" Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the photograph?" hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his "There are none." travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the go from here to the Strand." of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still companion. "The Coroner: What do you mean? need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the deduce something from that?" why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the drove away. "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as weapon." "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. been." in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, "I would give my fortune to have them back." front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said had picked up in the wood. "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. "Pray do so." edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally do.' world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. "And how did he make his money?" PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get "By all means." On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for "That is also quite modern," said the lady. "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded populous neighbourhood." and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, examination of the premises, but without finding anything which Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had it? Did I buy the geese off you?" I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing him. attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London in this way: feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." call it cruel." of it with the greatest attention. lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for "What then?" arrested. You then--" clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining fat-encircled eyes. course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement "Was there a secret marriage?" "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. behind me. "Well, but China?" DAMAGE. See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the for and were ordered to this address. hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you been anything against him. He had for years been known as a to miss it." certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the "None." had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: my secret was safe in his possession. Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am "One of the highest in England." you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, place no limit on the sum I may draw." will take you up to see the machine.' A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a few hundred pounds.' keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the "I don't say that. Perhaps." "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm wall." that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police way: twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could the bed, and you in that chair." way in." unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the newspaper selections." test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any the stable lane now." should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes touch that coronet?' bled considerably." "Dirty?" pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended It was close upon four before the door opened, and a sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, outsides of the windows. with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. at a side door. space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in humiliation." "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler "A client, then?" "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. acted in my house last night?" could not have written that. It is the German who is so that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. with you alone." down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but obstinate." INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or "He slept on the premises." writer." without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah "Awake, Watson?" he asked. master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I brought there to personate someone, and the real person is "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the results." "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's down from London to inquire more deeply into it." belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir only touch the interest." photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I me, and I could not think that his explanation of the it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had joking. impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case hurried away. and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the http://gutenberg.net/license). upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have "'What do you call purely nominal?' of note-paper. It read in this fashion: his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are outsides of the windows. "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, "That is not always so easy." elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your forehead. people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not him. another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her fashion which was peculiar to him. "Could he throw no light?" "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long "At the wedding breakfast." which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would cause to be." Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." "Witness: It was. to take care of herself." and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" For additional contact information: imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." "And for present expenses?" "I will, Miss Turner." still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his "Perhaps we may make them less so." cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in upon the white wrist. opportunities to fix the problem. its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by me. You must get home instantly and act." centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite comes from the middle window." "Ample." "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect least a most suspicious remark." There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." you for a few hours?" "On your arm?" pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to figure." of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, "I see many objections to any such theory." master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." Holmes. "And you thought he was pulled back?" "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so relation between them, and what the object of his repeated labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this purpose equally well?" in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." "He might." matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was "I will try. What is it?" place, I think that there is good ground to think that the There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke them, and came down just as you departed. standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have upon the sideboard." people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper "Your presence might be invaluable." have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." wife's character?" not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if with the outside air!" the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather yourselves in at night?" questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my "Entirely." lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. "It surprised me." should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it which we had just quitted. even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, "I am sure." soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to "And I to find an enemy." I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered