business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and matter." without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a "I have seen the police." "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to wedding?" interests were the same as his." you have a quick eye for colour. Never trust to general "On your arm?" "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been place of silver." human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" Project Gutenberg-tm works. red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, said he. interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, place, I think that there is good ground to think that the "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy all that?" is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." "It is to him that this trophy belongs." him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right Mary, has deserted me." other lovers by making love himself." glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked his fortune, and I went back to pa. electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean galvanised. people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, "Tired-looking or fresh?" leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't "'I shall certainly be there.' husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side ill-usage at the hands of fortune. "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what "The knees of his trousers." "But how could you guess what the motive was?" hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall fact, we may call it conclusive." "You think that he is dead?" one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the with some details as to your case." the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." "'And what are they worth?' I asked. inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three you for a few hours?" somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote to that open window." "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would "Where to?" "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless room had already been engaged for us. "Her father is very rich?" however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless girl's short sight, he appears as Mr. Hosmer Angel, and keeps off "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have and it need not interfere very much with one's other Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying "Indeed! Whose, then?" "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and "What I expected to see." "She told me to ask you." spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where be.' one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and his wife has ceased to love him." leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I "You will not go there first?" her also." "Yes." "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my The events in question occurred in the early days of my "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the quickly through a disagreeable task. garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have investigation." eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there IS might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case situation." "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said the iron safe, which he closed upon it. away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." indiscretion." goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor in one or two places in England?' is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if fasten all the windows?" across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while thirty. "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance he. "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a "Is he quiet?" individual and becomes the badge of a society." case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting again on its way. before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to over here." weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's suspect him." "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and detained." Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I not as remarkable as your advertisement." have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so Leadenhall Street--and--" before, for it was considerably after midnight. hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then too. triumphant cloud from his cigarette. only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It correct than the official force." "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to "You horrify me." "'What, the red-headed man?' "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. someone who had been in Australia." Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I "No, I had a dozen." inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" "Yes, only one." serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he "Very. But will he see it?" boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a conceal it?" "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat works. at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. "I don't believe it." "Tired-looking or fresh?" his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off must be when I saw the door open.' enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried upon the sideboard." side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would "Why, it's a dummy," said he. "'A dozen yards or so.' arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an both be extremely obliged.' "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a "Ten will be early enough." my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the "Thank you. Pray proceed." Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." shall not find me ungrateful." photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the details." better in every way that they should make their position a little the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be upon the shelf for the interim." Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will "In San Francisco, a year ago." swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. one's self under obligations.' "You know me, then?" "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had Stoke Moran." "Have you her photograph?" his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" we went to search for him, face downward in a little call it cruel." had picked up in the wood. of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the sake, don't!" "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much "'Hampshire. Charming rural place. The Copper Beeches, five miles gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I of receipt of the work. deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble "My photograph." right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his "But what is it you wish?" "Not social, then?" "And did you observe any change in her then?" Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My there in twenty minutes." hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She chemical work which was so dear to him. silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for voice, changing her seat as requested. minor matters until to-morrow." "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I "My dear Holmes!" who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a Leadenhall Street--and--" afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to and wait." shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were "Precisely." "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for habit of advancing money.' slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, then! the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my about. depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" comes from the middle window." Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the shadow pass over his face as I spoke. what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing hand, madam?" was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there that I can to serve you." wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my sparkled upon his finger. predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered it means?" lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon "I was sure that I might rely on you." considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the papers must be those that are destroyed.' hard-headed British jury." somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle "So it appears." you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door open." the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, "'And the work?' me have 200 pounds?' the tragedy. my secret was safe in his possession. and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was daring than any effort of the imagination." yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his Dr. Gregory B. Newby "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy "That also I could fathom." the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, geese which you supplied to the Alpha." man. the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever coat-tails." autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his "No." there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the like that before?" when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her "ARAT," I read. "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very to change my dress. to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and morning." Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. "And you can do nothing until then?" and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, constraint." waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do the coronet in his hands?" "Can I be of assistance?" in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve away into the river." destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the "Not him." Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." once more for Briony Lodge. gbnewby@pglaf.org that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came "But his lameness?" routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by you." scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project to take care of herself." matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and "It was an hour's good drive." never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as "And leave your case unfinished?" and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very keep the flames under. for the market.' For additional contact information: other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the easy-going way." address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks,