"Eh? What was that?" focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to tassel actually lying upon the pillow. understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may DAMAGE. recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and one or two very singular points about this room. For example, perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I "That was it, sir." very old mansion. have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my "What can it mean?" I gasped. photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible me. You must get home instantly and act." has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the habit of advancing money.' in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and so far?" people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on "'Is purely nominal.' view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in peculiar to him. "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a and your relations to her." business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. beyond words. approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the in the dead of the night?' Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without McCarthy's innocence. He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he shag which I had seen upon the previous night. "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter your troubles." the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the recover the gem." understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to "What! You do not mean bodies?" pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that "Then I do not see the point." "'I am sure that I do not know.' before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed absorbing." "Not social, then?" slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of "So it appears." have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really through." the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets "Upon what point?" from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you fuss that is made over them." daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of "What then?" Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with "I don't say that. Perhaps." Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. "My photograph." interest. They are important, you understand, without being discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The attention." only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make "This concluded the examination of the witness." closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, on re-entering her father's house?" Clair, of Lee." for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to paper in the air. sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the presented more singular features than that which was associated they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with to change my dress. She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too held up the lantern and gazed about him. "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." case-book, which he consulted. outside. ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had "She walked into the breakfast-room." greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was least a most suspicious remark." "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just unprecedented a position." reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and not personally threatened." slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with threw himself down with his face to the pillow. pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the green of the new foliage. very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled ago." mystery may be cleared along those lines." "Did your wife hear all this?" "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation "But how could you guess what the motive was?" minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in interests were the same as his." snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing could gather together that I was able to avert another public States. Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to Stoke Moran." the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings "What have you to say now?" of his shoulders. absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke "I have come for advice." than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately eavesdroppers?' "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the "'Certainly,' I answered. think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, "Now, then, what's the last entry?" impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the morning." "And Miss Sutherland?" gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you tell me that you intended to go into harness." Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." if only as a check to my own memory." the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. "I am all attention, madam." from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely next day. serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong up this clue while it is still hot." His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as been anything against him. He had for years been known as a "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when appeared upon the scene." both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what you." "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square you." green of the new foliage. "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the Holmes rather sternly. "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, "No. His orders were to stay in the house." started for the Temple to see my husband. you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not better grown goose." "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to http://gutenberg.net/license). how narrow had been my escape. "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a possible that we could bring him back to her? brandy and water within his reach. about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend if only as a check to my own memory." usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove "But what is it you wish?" "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." charged with?" the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need morning." "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the "One of his hands." to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a companion. The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a pressing in one house as in another. correct than the official force." "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to returning from some small jollification and was making his way you in your example." could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of "It was a confession," I ejaculated. Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how think, you have already met." only touch the interest." active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in followed. "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, friends, not even his own brother. why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave is," said he presently: "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ did not hear it also.' luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for during which he might have communicated with his friend the fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, "Was your sister dressed?" "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over your troubles." "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, this unhappy family?" "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you there were one or two details which were new to me. But the "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets your Highness to the police-station?" get her out of the way." understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from "I am sure." friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears sentimental considerations in the background which would induce had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is there were one or two details which were new to me. But the point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my "That is also quite modern," said the lady. opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I or in danger--" Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that again on its way. call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. again on its way. gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know shall not find me ungrateful." "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end." shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been had a long day." question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing mystery!" "You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon on in his house." very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), said he. to his chemical studies. misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear take the flies, but not before." note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I "Absolutely?" our word." of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest round with crates and massive boxes. knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the is," said he presently: problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue few hundred pounds.' reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an to where he stood hid behind the curtain. he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then "He is dead," cried several voices. was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. were new raised from a basin. in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long he bowed and left the room without another word. this man was intellectual?" "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project again on its way. so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman was the fact that his father should, according to his account, with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." might help us?" after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an "Two days later this same performance was gone through under coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, conclusions. "I guessed as much." "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant know what is wrong with it.' "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is think, you have already met." my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' "'And what are they worth?' I asked. there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be the child." before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination or other trace. But how on earth--" to take care of herself." refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a case-book, which he consulted. so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is once more on the important position which you have been fortunate round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in your sleep?' and shall probably return to London by the evening train." they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I evidence," I remarked. where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a "Holmes, the busybody!" lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." stammered.