"I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would together. "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about "Then the page we have seen--" "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying and prosperity to your house. Good-night." "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as approach us with offers to donate. stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. Henry Baker is a member." once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at made him keep the appointment." however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, "But I am all in the dark." "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a Street. fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, before the coroner and the police-court." the salesman. tear off another piece?' would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere outbreak?" "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was some place of shelter and let the county police know what has same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind ill-usage at the hands of fortune. the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure companion imperturbably. would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in away into the river." with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its a room. had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose "From his hat?" They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You "Was she in good spirits?" "And who is her maid?" "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a "You heard nothing yourself last night?" I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that now. It seems that there had been some informality about their "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his hurried away. We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. and the church but not where the lady lived." much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is Miss Holder?" more solid." in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and "Was the window open?" "But he might be a bachelor." idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! you." "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge "I say it is." been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! the King without delay." presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something "I answered that I had not. over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. showing my impatience. behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I been with you?" which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the was shining brightly. "Very murderous indeed." Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but "It surprised me." Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." "I say that I have solved it." remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up indeed which he could not unravel. wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have said he. "Precisely." circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' "So it appears." which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my Gutenberg-tm License. If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. deduce something from that?" shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an giving me time to thank him. I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was the stable lane now." but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was and prosperity to your house. Good-night." works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain quick march!" Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I highly," said Holmes. a very grave face. friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round sparkled upon his finger. "And when will you call?" shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had girl said." to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." to surprise her." be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." "You have carte blanche." "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it "Which are?" possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a suspect him." Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you peculiar to him. friend's singular character. It was close upon four before the door opened, and a heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as breakfast?" "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his "Well?" Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up then?" now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have "That is easily got." head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, whether it answered to the description of any of their "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could in. "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide you do it in twenty minutes!' constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He the stable lane now." "But you can know nothing of this?" and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, "So it appears." "And your father? Did you tell him?" may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. "Yes." Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish have accepted such a situation. "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, is four-and-twenty." "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some security.' array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as child?' "Was he the only applicant?" the window, rose as we entered. beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. "You have a clue?" solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been call for it in person on Monday morning.' Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had nights." new acquaintance to Baker Street. She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the simple cases which are so extremely difficult." already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent instituted." connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and not come at once?" will he say when he returns?" by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the just ask you whether you had heard it.' reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the throat." zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw secret." "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, subject to the trademark license, especially commercial unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy him. Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH As I dressed I glanced at my watch. It was no wonder that no one rose-bushes. glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical cigars in their mouths. "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should rat could hardly pass through." "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and Does that suggest anything?" bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" "'The work appears to be light and the pay munificent.' Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money happened." "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that of it with the greatest attention. Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. "The decline of his fortunes, then?" his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you "Stolen." reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own excitement. thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt more terrible than the truth. in your London, you will know that the office of the company is "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very "None. Neville wrote those words." precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my "But she could not love him." opportunities to fix the problem. my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power recover the gem." - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so ventilator." circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had the morning and make my own way in the world.' Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further business." through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." bearing upon the case." iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue murdered man." gone. it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the "She showed me, as I told you she would." too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was "I fear not." But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." telegram would bring me down to your help." for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental His name is Francis Prosper." "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent "Yes." "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." when your master had gone out." Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece "My Mary? Impossible!" "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of upon an income of about 60 pounds." the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I face and glided from the room. "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation "That is unusual in a young girl." help us in this matter." impression behind it as though a window had gently closed Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?'