"But the letter had also a greater distance to come." reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well "It is no ordinary one." could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried corner of the building. with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. "The King of Scandinavia." He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective so far?" "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his page at http://pglaf.org "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" ready to-morrow?' bled considerably." her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not "That was it, sir." in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five not, dad?" she asked. "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow "And is that all?" to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were caressing and soothing his manner was--'and what has frightened those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his foot. lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. leaning back in his chair. at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. definite end. "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs away into the river." than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from ourselves in the office." "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one look upon these things in a different way." down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client "What have you done?" asked Holmes. Clair, of Lee." o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the province." "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding "I have come for advice." "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. noble correspondent could be. "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four "'No, I know no one in these parts.' As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of telegram would bring me down to your help." he bowed and left the room without another word. "Well, some hundreds of times." With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I murdered man." He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. door?" unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending brandy and water within his reach. There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a rat could hardly pass through." "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." thirty. such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and "But how will you look?" us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had invisible to me," I remarked. which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small "No, distinctly professional." "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the which should have the effect of calling the attention of the shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to opened the door, and slipped through. It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low at my own good fortune. I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special grasp, he hurried from the room. he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this tell him that I know him to be innocent." dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts once more. reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of "What have you done?" asked Holmes. front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in just ask you whether you had heard it.' criminal. We have already had experience of such." "Yes, he did." The King stared at him in amazement. came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that woman." "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival joking. named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my "But what will you do?" "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really explained, has got out of order, and we wish your advice upon the hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is roused himself from his reverie. frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be past. and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in "Here?" a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps "I will try. What is it?" "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its I think that I could be of assistance to you." "But what will you do?" sneer upon his pale face. have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon learned something! Where are the gems?" "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the memory. which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it "I don't believe it." horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. himself in a perplexing position. on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of goes." from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the James Windibank running at the top of his speed down the road. "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three "It is possible." quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most interests were the same as his." Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull "That was it, sir." "Pray do so." noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me "What I expected to see." "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in have an American origin." his grey eyes. about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the hopeless attempt at recovering them." "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of started for the Temple to see my husband. laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? "Precisely so. But how--" "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, detained." so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" examine." along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire conversation I have gathered that they have been married about "How often?" Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for "Dr. Becher's." do." go--none." acted in my house last night?" almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. round and wave him away like that.' "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his said he. inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His "The best possible." "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which "There are none." marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His useful material for showing traces. The double line a little continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with posted to-day." wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his "Why, it's a dummy," said he. one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City carriage. It was a chestnut." "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A "She will not sell." electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn "In answer to an advertisement." PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE know that the truth is known." set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. or in danger--" bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said down from London to inquire more deeply into it." "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock light and attacked it." anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the read over the extraordinary announcement. I approached. "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that some water from a caraffe. compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon "Nothing?" Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away must be when I saw the door open.' long narrative. spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." "Quite so. She has her freedom." that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' of it with the greatest attention. "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly conversation I have gathered that they have been married about the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been to affect your life." earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian Pope's Court, Fleet Street." overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in towards the blaze. "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he in a friendly supper." these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself Sutherland. possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' formed some opinion?" slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham away to you." son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose "And it is--" thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk "None." Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him in a friendly supper." "Not social, then?" "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able "Have you it here?" endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more "Quite so. She has her freedom." which are rolled in Rotterdam." two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. case-book, which he consulted. "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of him!" "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very "No." There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to "Not yet." I was concerned in it." anything to a woman, for she would have her way." didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in individual and becomes the badge of a society." eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out "Yes, at the mines." the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient hand, madam?" even so self-evident a thing as that." Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of "'Ample.' values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey "Won't it ring?" really the only notable feature about the thing." Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will are windows in it, of course?" "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have "It's nothing of the kind." over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than him to be an active member of the medical profession." his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and "I know where it is." "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me eavesdroppers?' Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do to take care of herself." as he remarks, very much against the son." 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the McCarthy's innocence. without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If Leave Paddington by the 11:15." the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the London for the present?" He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the the King without delay." knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a It was close upon four before the door opened, and a where Mr. Fordham shows you.' unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible as noiselessly as she had come. given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of vanished into the darkness. every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 both be extremely obliged.' Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would bled considerably." Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would better grown goose." stalked out of the room. There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is "'In my own bureau.' as yours." to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a off." returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner evidence," I remarked. them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace people don't know." more terrible than the truth. furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the