whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the "That's no good." bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" south, for the country is more deserted there." "Not yet." weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained photograph?" "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the "Tired-looking or fresh?" returning from some small jollification and was making his way drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to make me his representative both with the servants and with the about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of helping a boy to put up the shutters. abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits. "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my already been minutely examined." revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that "Not him." had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress him to go away.' "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute was a perfect sample of the class. and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to it right.' simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the to-night?' *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the Leadenhall Street--and--" "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, trifles." But Holmes shook his head gravely. "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked suggested at once that there must be a communication between the Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it instituted." flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and lamp in his hand. "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in "'Where could I find him?' Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as his grey eyes. "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure servant-maids--joined in a general shriek of "Fire!" Thick clouds Mary, has deserted me." "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to that I am arrested." there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked there has been an enclosure here!" following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip stammered. The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well good-night and bustled off upon her way. Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out "Pray let us have it, for all that." the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by notes," he said. fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at drawing your inferences." me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." passage and a tap at the door. "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was bled considerably." reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his keep the flames under. continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to "My dear Holmes!" lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey empty. "'Oh, no.' "Then, how do you know?" "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project disappearance of the bride.'" back alive. observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business giving me time to thank him. round and wave him away like that.' Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a American. Then who could this American be, and why should he tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, His name is Francis Prosper." "A call for help, you thought?" determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker "You saw the ventilator, too?" "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my "By no means." with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend "Very. But will he see it?" always that they were such commands as a lady might with shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for whether it answered to the description of any of their Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a "10th. John Swain cleared. have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, stalked out of the room. hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable "I see no marks." who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in dates and names. back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be other lovers by making love himself." "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my "I was mad--insane." Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." "And from a noble client?" "That sounds a little paradoxical." Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The arrangements." foresight and the moral retrogression?" singular points about the case. What did the police think of the it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it "My photograph." that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from present." laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way I have it here in my museum." all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged there were one or two details which were new to me. But the a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut attention." of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with "And the cigar-holder?" "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** where she found matters as described by the last witness. "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. undoubtedly my uncle's." "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of dates and names. better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you "What can you not understand?" Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him "Could he throw no light?" "My last client of the sort was a king." him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." "He is still with you, I presume?" Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and chill to my heart. its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" "Very. But will he see it?" was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said hurried by. India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can vanished into the darkness. Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes "My private note-paper." Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own you for a few hours?" turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his "Pray continue your narrative." disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: existence." days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered "'Yes, sir.' face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and had formerly been in part my own. material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel cup of tea. to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" Doctor, of the paper and the date." and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I unkempt, staring out at me. "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, that he has suffered." did not hear it also.' "Dr. Becher's." sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is "Yes." shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two this man was intellectual?" round and wave him away like that.' With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the despaired of." "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter who was a member of your goose club." "Witness: It was. for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it searched, without anything being found which could incriminate "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A "And I say east," said my patient. "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of instituted." them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a fluttered off among the others. and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the opened a pocket-book and took out a note. "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without "Tired-looking or fresh?" along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora do you make of it all?" "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your guilty one." where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." with you?" them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't in him." empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw characteristics, but those are the more obvious." sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we "Certainly." When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which my friend's incisive reasoning. in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable and the whole place is in a blaze." bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I some mystery and the punishment of some crime." with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that ways of our fellow-men." not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one "No good news?" up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A showing my impatience. a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the "How are you getting on?" to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than "'Most admirably.' "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" room had already been engaged for us. after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do arrangements." the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to already been minutely examined." his huge brown hands. appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat "I shall most certainly do so." "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of with frightened eyes at his accuser. moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and "You were travelling in the States?" the inner apartment." his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious should be so warm over such a trifle." thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended bird of prey. "What! You do not mean bodies?" or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when orange pips. questioning and rather startled gaze. little adventures." "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in question. so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's colour had been driven from his face. companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than "At the wedding breakfast." been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of of his shoulders. grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the "Stolen, then." lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the "I have seen the police." in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." "What have you to say now?" wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him "It was a confession," I ejaculated. that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. "Never to return." really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had second window is the one that I jumped from." "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land 1.F. do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. business came to an end." of them has the shutters up.' "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the late!' upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me