have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." "It is his hat." without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." was keenly on my guard against him. "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" few hundred pounds.' laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the must compliment you." constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The subduing in the sudden gloom, and in the cold dank air of the work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & the stable lane now." and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from "I should like to see him very much." the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion "But you would not advise me to refuse?" "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' the running down." wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and other lovers by making love himself." merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." works. nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary "It is very clear." such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the "'Yes, it was gone.' hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last "'Entirely.' to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. read it out to me." it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle Sutherland. was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose directors, with the result that you have seen." "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you at a side door. with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an the armchair which I pushed forward for him. "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this and the colonel ushered me in. had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in "No more words. Get out!" to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the "Eh? What was that?" village inn over there?" "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and hardly wander." caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you come either from the window or the door. My attention was business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. chambers. point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, suspect him." down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished make me his representative both with the servants and with the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small families. Now for the facts. It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it "You saw the ventilator, too?" me, and I could not think that his explanation of the Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a already been minutely examined." any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was "'And what are they worth?' I asked. flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to "Ten will be early enough." "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have cigars in the box." This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, I held the little printed slip to the light. where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, ventilator." appeal." the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, awaited us upon the table. morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, "He might." threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up "But the mystery?" explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in had died away into the silence from which it rose. would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, look upon these things in a different way." go back?" silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a "The King of Scandinavia." three fields round his house, and there he would take his although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is "Dr. Becher's." jewels which you have stolen?' to you." strength of mind to control. "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off "Not in the least." eat it." When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always to his chemical studies. predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from "'Is purely nominal.' and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the question," said Holmes, smiling. held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as happened." sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the subject to the trademark license, especially commercial Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed "What then?" the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there crowd. maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his in the dead of the night?' "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or way in." all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. own family. "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a never will be, entirely cleared up. father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to "Why serious?" thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he "Where did he live, then?" "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right a very grave face. during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the so.' "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be place, I think that there is good ground to think that the madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." "The knees of his trousers." Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned "Then the page we have seen--" "But how did you gain them?" coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I "And who is her maid?" Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San not as remarkable as your advertisement." his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in have established a very serious case against the son of the an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." in my life." "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' presume?" his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, "Yes, from Horsham." until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent little adventures." Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save room?" the very morning of the wedding." evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, "Have you it here?" pound a week." "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, himself in a perplexing position. For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during electronic works I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may possible that we could bring him back to her? lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a guilty one." least a most suspicious remark." the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion tell them apart.' despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A perplexity from it to my illustrious client. "It must be recovered." hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to anything to do with the matter?" mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, which our visitor detailed to us. interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have sooner or later she must fall a victim. the bottom.' It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was very morning of my second wedding." quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last "Never." weary and pale-looking. and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I opportunities to fix the problem. "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must Stoke Moran." cause to be." "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest Sholtos." British peeress.'" Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the with you?" daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his "She will not sell." The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never "How did he come?" "Have you her photograph?" town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most fear." salesman. knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. bore every mark of being an average commonplace British served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the one of the states of the Union." had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head three fields round his house, and there he would take his whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, rooms." I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue "How often?" all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from fire. You quite follow me?" wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to "No. His orders were to stay in the house." Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the she might be summoned. story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of John Swain, of St. Augustine. in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are the night.' "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet enter Dr. Roylott's room." "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine "Nothing." you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or information in his hands the value of which he did not himself that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" the dangers which encompass me." is entirely a question of barometric pressure." breakfast and whispered something to her husband. his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a "Who was the criminal, then?" I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the will he say when he returns?" was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and answer." would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar "I cannot tell." away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold "How did that help you?" "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, "Yes. He waved his hands." "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." outbreak?" "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I the ceiling. This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue to-morrow." which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet handed it to him. wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always and your relations to her." "Precisely." the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she "You have but to name it." settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on said he. room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' newspaper selections." Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than whereabouts. Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down not interfere, come what may. You understand?" "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem comes from the middle window." which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill hands. have established a very serious case against the son of the "Then I do not see the point." anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips "No, but the enclosure is." guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely