gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I congratulate you again." outside. the Assizes." commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and "Indeed! Whose, then?" but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and "And is that all?" better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step "Could he throw no light?" of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, chemical work which was so dear to him. the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out "Oh, the cause is excellent!" me where it went to?" Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason "Absolutely none." the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his "To an English lawyer named Norton." of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to "You saw the ventilator, too?" deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through "To the police?" a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't "And I." simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is directly by questioning you." even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, Holmes' face clouded over. "And when will you call?" rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I lips." abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It "Look there!" said he. dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. "Well, some hundreds of times." "'Entirely.' to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised bell. Holmes whistled. of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless who was a member of your goose club." the nursery. the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the "One?" Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your never came back." face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you written, and locked the door of the office after me. "ARAT," I read. and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." "I cannot as yet see any connection." bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You them?" "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I stood on the top of it. call for protection in the marriage market, for the present one else, I think." "And it is--" pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something "Yes, from Horsham." gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and there when the Rucastles went away." few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then "In heaven's name, what for?" "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary "My stepfather's business papers." His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between "I do." other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. will take you up to see the machine.' "Then you may be so with me." "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips "I beg pardon." to his chemical studies. of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." charged with?" them, and came down just as you departed. roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than Young McCarthy must be got off, however." which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling ways including including checks, online payments and credit card combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving friend's singular character. "We have tried and failed." giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. "'Which dealer's?' "Yes. He waved his hands." "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the than to us. was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my some place of shelter and let the county police know what has labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in families. Now for the facts. "We must have a cab." the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging thin legs towards the fire. little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me off." the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, which was all perfectly true. finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every if I call to-morrow?" are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. congratulate you again." reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small "Quite so." I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had "'Stolen!' he cried. "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That the King without delay." "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, prove to be little relation between the different incidents of he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and and the whole place is in a blaze." all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will as he folded up the epistle. which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of impression behind it as though a window had gently closed Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with there." usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform "No. His orders were to stay in the house." Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." Watson," he said cordially. Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." instituted." Eyford." said I. ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in "Because he was handy and would come cheap." ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" new acquaintance to Baker Street. wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, attempted to ascend the stairs which led to the first floor. At their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows have established a very serious case against the son of the was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered "And why?" wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose "No, my brougham is waiting." named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. "Now, then, what's the last entry?" We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit whereabouts. education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and recall any case within my experience which looked at the first "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a our word." to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and "But it has twice been burgled." introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my details should find their way into the papers. Inspector unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent "Did you observe the colour?" much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic "Can I be of assistance?" "And what did you see?" most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." "You horrify me." front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with salesman. or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. "'Yes, sir.' happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' "Then, as to money?" description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the was once confined in the cab my mission was practically into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot The summons was a brief and urgent one. the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord "Proceed, then." British peeress.'" http://www.gutenberg.net whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over 'please.'" sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though copied or distributed: of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, written, and locked the door of the office after me. outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but ashen face. red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has best detective that ever lived. who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the to some other building. "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by "Yes." "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into there was no need for father to know." should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be without a word or a look. the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and "Pray be precise as to details," said he. "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." "Never." surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & never will be, entirely cleared up. secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all in. unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being "Yes?" to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the in darkness. there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide new acquaintance to Baker Street. "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you true." my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly one of the states of the Union." Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: to go into your room and bar your shutters?" it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was drove away. upon the white wrist. his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. "No. His orders were to stay in the house." "I will try. What is it?" her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never hurried away. leave you to your papers for a little." lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." into her hand at the door and which lured her within their words came to my lips. difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and "Yes, all." photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong what do you think they found in the pockets?" quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been "He slept on the premises." dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, the little opening for the ventilator is." used to be." "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone as yours." "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in residence of the great financier. my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled "I have a cab outside." with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way. I was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better use an arc-and-compass breastpin." o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. "It goes to the housekeeper's room." gone before you can get him to hospital." may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was we went to search for him, face downward in a little "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. "What do you mean?" the loss of it. convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. his forehead." in this note: "You have the photograph?" "I cannot tell." case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch go from here to the Strand." here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing information in his hands the value of which he did not himself own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when in the port of London." The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the "Oh, yes, easily." trifles." "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, "You saw the ventilator, too?" my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding "In the cells." of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." to talk it over. can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain "Pray let us have it, for all that." "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been who was a member of your goose club." Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I examine." "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I mysterious business." near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote