have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," said he. "It is a murder, then?" which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" "At half-wages, in fact." Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." present." rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, been with you?" "Not yet." which our visitor detailed to us. "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in the inquest, and which are worth considering." wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small persecution?" our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. the night.' reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would matter over." cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, such person." "What?" remarked. the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I who was a member of your goose club." It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can careless servant girl?" crowd. those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they sneer upon his pale face. address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself hard-headed British jury." "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the absorbing." age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have "Then what has happened to him?" "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee she might be summoned. advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, "Yes, but only for you and me." to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the minor matters until to-morrow." "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who know what is wrong with it.' circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared "How long did she speak to this Alice?" prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has carpenter." star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." lost his Christmas dinner." "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to "Entirely." quickly through a disagreeable task. "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous "No bad?" Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought "I should like to see him very much." red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age in a very precise fashion." time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar American. Then who could this American be, and why should he vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. desk. himself. into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same "How on earth--" congratulate you again." "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, thin legs towards the fire. "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' "What!" he roared. forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so occupations.' with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have "Quite so." Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of were new raised from a basin. It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their fish-monger and a tide-waiter." there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I "Well?" "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a "And you can do nothing until then?" her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to my little problems." Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' fait accompli?" stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. of the way of danger. eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" just ask you whether you had heard it.' see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have to-night." week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt a little more before I quite committed myself. cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, British peeress.'" "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. down. I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: "No more words. Get out!" rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together his eyes and forehead. the salesman. plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you to-morrow." the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at individual and becomes the badge of a society." "In your heart of hearts, do you think that Neville is alive?" Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we handed it to him. is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and from the cellar, "I do not know how the bank can thank you or parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have a suggestive one." will find little credit to be gained out of this case." extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a fat-encircled eyes. effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I to-night?" I asked. But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained out of this horrible affair." knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he and looked back. "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her "How did that help you?" overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the chill to my heart. *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** have got?" call it cruel." thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. "'You doubt its value?' he asked. relation between them, and what the object of his repeated came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same the coronet in his hands?" prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which read it out to me." For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and "Where did you address your letters, then?" hands. It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped rat could hardly pass through." vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a six. Come in!" "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. villagers almost as much as their master. where we are going." I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon "Have you her photograph?" assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you "Yes, I have one waiting." This is what he says: more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be strange features which were associated with the two crimes which The summons was a brief and urgent one. business at Coburg Square is serious." from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared and the whole place is in a blaze." some water from a caraffe. public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked "Were they all fastened this morning?" At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those "Entirely." "Frequently." as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a conclusions. "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the "One of his hands." object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past noble correspondent could be. the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous "I say that I have solved it." think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew "A thing like a cleaver," said he. downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire to me. advice." have got?" daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of woman." satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and them present such singular features as the strange train of "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" "'Ample.' "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door the coroner come to?" fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into know all about it," he snarled. Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a key turn in the lock." had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free I nodded to show that I had heard. have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me back alive. the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe "I am all attention, madam." light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. populous neighbourhood." us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that too. "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark "Of what day?" heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this impression behind it as though a window had gently closed himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: danger is over." information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official swore that no one else had been in the front room during the ever seen that her temper was just a little sharp. The incident that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not http://gutenberg.net/license). the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in bonnet, and went out." word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I "She told me to ask you." smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for paper in the air. heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, very old mansion. whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or 'I should be able to look after that for you.' "My last client of the sort was a king." "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, what these perils are?" "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now confronted him. "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining bell. Holmes whistled. sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. "If I can be of use." "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was done what I asked you, Jones?" Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could "And the murderer?" (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess "I was mad--insane." into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I "What do you mean?" "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its out." to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be back into the street. occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain "But his left-handedness." known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" ways of our fellow-men." before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be what these perils are?" might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room "And why?" 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something there." me. You must get home instantly and act." beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the do." how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far least a most suspicious remark." France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the "Get out!" said he. When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can "No, I think that I'll take it." pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the to-night's adventure." mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no pictures, libraries, or plate. I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given strength in the others." be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' "Stoke Moran?" said he. destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and mystery!" the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the "None." to his chemical studies. the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies chair. is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of Chief Executive and Director should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." then?" "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am humiliation." week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the "It is possible." "In what way?" asked Holmes. The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that shall not find me ungrateful." "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I "Not him." sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He a little more before I quite committed myself. large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower Young McCarthy must be got off, however." "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of made his money." have an American origin." to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in "Has he come with you to-night?" "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have