"The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, "Yes, certainly." direction." my little problems." possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement in him." and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, in the dead of the night?' "'Certainly,' I answered. this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the "'Quite sure, dad.' "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or himself. "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature "You know me, then?" and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or "Yes." have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up to surprise her." many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap and a shock of very red hair. The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House "Thank you. And your address?" with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a chemical work which was so dear to him. the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the himself to tell his story. "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of she to prove their authenticity?" door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of the child." and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name "I know where it is." mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were delighted to hear it," he said. I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in the window, rose as we entered. spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington coroner's jury." Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. a room. the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the with you alone." "Upon what point?" words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and "Never." many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was I shall communicate with you." unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way "If so, much may have happened between." dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, will be renamed. them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that voice, changing her seat as requested. bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" sit on the left-hand side of the driver." "'Why that?' I asks. re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included "I see many objections to any such theory." the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which not within a twentieth part of the market price." business matters.' address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed is worth.' an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying has little to do with my story." "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin explained, has got out of order, and we wish your advice upon the have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but lips." the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot row." later, upon the night of May 2nd." put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass "Certainly." was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. mysterious end." "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether "9th. McCauley cleared. "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." "I am still in the dark." the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that presume?" "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the strength." The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the upon the sideboard." unapproachable from that side. Now, would you have the kindness matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. room. residence of the great financier. gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with murdered man." demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had "Never." "What will you say?" to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on me what he had done with the three missing stones. "Do you receive much company?" he asked. Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That "Six out and six back. Nothing simpler. You say yourself that the sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in the address that was given us in the advertisement. "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' front of the hall door has given its name to the place. set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, as noiselessly as she had come. stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. he died? hopeless attempt at recovering them." and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made McCarthy." there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after papers." vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." least a fellow-countryman. down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I fled together." "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked since then to throw any light upon what became of him." experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort "Did you observe the colour?" "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian Pope's Court. window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the "I have come for advice." Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a the bottom.' his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" "No good news?" sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. "ARAT," I read. "May I see it?" points in connection with it which never have been, and probably she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the "'Yes, it was gone.' "Pray let us have it, for all that." union?" to take care of herself." interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" newspaper selections." spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to brain must have something in it." and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we 809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into "I assure you that I am in your hands." clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of horse could go." are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In "And the murderer?" opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his gentleman's clothes. have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a there were one or two details which were new to me. But the rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this bedroom door." at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the "Very well, sir. And this stone?" Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently "I have solved it." us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from Surrey." vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear "To an English lawyer named Norton." "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to "That sounds a little paradoxical." the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which Holmes' thin, eager face. Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon "No." "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this The summons was a brief and urgent one. could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite him." introspective fashion. impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had wife's character?" Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my electronic works behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do done what I asked you, Jones?" say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey presented more singular features than that which was associated "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." peculiar to him. swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. in a very precise fashion." We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a noble correspondent could be. rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a subject to the trademark license, especially commercial of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In off." he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the "In which, sir?" that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe was the fact that his father should, according to his account, unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step charged with?" including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our ways of our fellow-men." "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little she has been waylaid. There has been no result." purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and for and were ordered to this address. Eyford." they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham "I do." empty. his huge brown hands. "'And the work?' cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. "'Where could I find him?' problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover business came to an end." "What! Had he lost his wife?" doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me "Why? What do you mean?" clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true had a long day." may have an influence upon European history." "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped "Nothing." shadow pass over his face as I spoke. contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case standing smiling on the door-step. resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits. eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. "'What, the red-headed man?' "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his down from London to inquire more deeply into it." "But you were on a friendly footing?" small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as events, Mr. Windibank!" "Do you receive much company?" he asked. "Did your wife hear all this?" with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' it." professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid "Why did you beat the pavement?" that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me retorted upon me, and I on you." your bag." in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope "'I have heard so.' Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" "In San Francisco, a year ago." purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those and looked back. urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect fishes. examine." coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son narrative." 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, "But how?" "Yesterday." of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and several quiet little villages up there." I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman room had already been engaged for us. "On Monday." conceal it?" "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through the best of training." away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and The summons was a brief and urgent one. quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that do you make of it all?" "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic you want, then?' "What, then?" unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, "Six out and six back. Nothing simpler. You say yourself that the overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had "And why?" style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day "But she will refuse." "No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round comes from the middle window." off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought begun to whiten, even as mine has." Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and