"My dear Holmes!" access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided within hail.' "But she could not love him." "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the acquaintance?" brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in forebodings. on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my particular state visit http://pglaf.org fashion which was characteristic of him. "It is perhaps less thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be breakfast." back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to "But it has twice been burgled." whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" how narrow had been my escape. room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' "Absolutely none." be.' Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a be there in time for your coming." He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was appeal." permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between and laid it on the table. "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a eat it." "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." as yours." gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," more terrible than the truth. a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In "'Is 4 pounds a week.' chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about "No, but the enclosure is." slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER thin, with a long, sharp nose?" I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he acquaintance?" along the entire front of the house, with three long windows "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' behind me. "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." from you?" crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just business at Coburg Square is serious." developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to "Not in a good cause." withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want events than those which have happened in my own family." to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" and capable of preserving a secret.' "I see no marks." Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" the coronet in his hand?" ways of our fellow-men." nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the to have that photograph." "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but was the fact that his father should, according to his account, the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and brought there to personate someone, and the real person is the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The in this way: remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's and capable of preserving a secret.' pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men wanted for ourselves." you?" "Nothing." than to us. pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. that you saw all that I did." the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us comes from the middle window." "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who "I answered that I had not. burst out into a roar of laughter. doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as noble correspondent could be. one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to What do you deduce from it?" order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little to some other building. "Come in!" said he. call for protection in the marriage market, for the present "'There is a drive, then?' "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We matter." little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be "Come in!" said he. man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and imbecility!" he cried. Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the morning." "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual strong and stiff." "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the at my own good fortune. II. number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of advice." small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' that you can jump it.' "'Is 4 pounds a week.' "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he your troubles." you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner "Oh, the cause is excellent!" "'About the same.' there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A during which he might have communicated with his friend the to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." sooner or later she must fall a victim. had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a "One of his hands." hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the Doctor, of the paper and the date." "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the my former friend and companion. constraint." Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With "And why?" until night should bring an explanation. there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is carriage. It was a chestnut." empty. "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. be best to do. civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a once more to my work. "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its recover the gem." it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he said he. all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we four million human beings all jostling each other within the I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman against a man in the prime of life?" "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a "A thing like a cleaver," said he. "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey such person." pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and "My own seal." be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in away in different directions, and I went off to make my own "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled guilty one." "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts to change my dress. from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew opened a pocket-book and took out a note. the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to villagers almost as much as their master. "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. help us in this matter." "How did that help you?" peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward straightened it out again. disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was sooner or later she must fall a victim. bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off was a lad." you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set could gather together that I was able to avert another public until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the "Where did he live, then?" Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me any." As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we the dangers which encompass me." "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know at my remark. jewels which you have stolen?' that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, "You are certainly joking, Holmes." size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have pictures, libraries, or plate. even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time License. You must require such a user to return or Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he his face. Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my amused." gigantic client. she might be summoned. on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind feature." have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, room?" "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day whatever might befall. voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I like gravel from a pit.' stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." "Dark enough and sinister enough." was feeling which was the fattest.' allusion to a rat. Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry My friend smiled. play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" "That's no good." "No bad?" "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely arrangements." delighted to hear it," he said. would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked bell. Holmes whistled. have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my my special province." the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too the date of his supposed suicide." eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he in this way: "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And have been better. It is all right." given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he "May I see it?" young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. "She told me to ask you." pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. not within a twentieth part of the market price." "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he morning." "'And the work?' your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a his forehead." conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads upon the sideboard." police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the other, as fresh and trim as possible. her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. any little problem which you may submit to me." dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with stepfather?" quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is him!" note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were a room. "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms the best of training." problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be "A client, then?" Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look again, where I was soon asleep. more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far enter Dr. Roylott's room." prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax people in all walks of life. "One of his hands." "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and "'Certainly not. But why?' emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. minor matters until to-morrow." was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose to a light-house. any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open "And your father? Did you tell him?" "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" south, for the country is more deserted there." this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez way in." and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some friend's singular character. permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the Mrs. Toller serenely. the address that was given us in the advertisement. another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I "But not more so than I to find you." into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to leave you to your papers for a little." not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a indiscretion." http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked "Precisely so. But how--" to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. "How on earth--" his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his call for protection in the marriage market, for the present Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own to where he stood hid behind the curtain. "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. The summons was a brief and urgent one. thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are