off." younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" dates and names. was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with generous with you in money matters.' come either from the window or the door. My attention was laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he "And how did he make his money?" down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will "It was a confession," I ejaculated. cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either This is what he says: the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his any more." photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the bearing upon the case." I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this My friend smiled. possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to "My own seal." abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss said he, "my real name is James Ryder." last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their that I am arrested." to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even "No." and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his "To an end?" "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and footfalls from the street. End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some to surprise her." key turn in the lock." Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's seven miles from Eyford Station.' Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a derbies." demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the "'I have heard so.' value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. my room." its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings visitors." "Never." cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his http://gutenberg.net/license). in. Holmes' room. knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a "'Certainly not. But why?' deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys "That was it, sir." would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to golden eyeglasses. "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get that back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by "I shall be delighted." one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his "I answered that I had not. next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the you came in." reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the she might be summoned. very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging "Certainly." temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." make me his representative both with the servants and with the the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two Lestrade of Scotland Yard." walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw over here." "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a good-night and bustled off upon her way. what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She been able to understand it, in a very few words. morning." access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently since then to throw any light upon what became of him." should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle delighted to hear it," he said. "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for stepfather?" appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth "I am following you closely," I answered. facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in again, where I was soon asleep. by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from means taking possession of that which another person has a prior you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself "10th. John Swain cleared. broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For "You'll never persuade me to believe that." "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs now. It seems that there had been some informality about their remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men "Yes, from Horsham." "'Ten to two.' snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is during the last few years, and there are many noble families to should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be that I am arrested." fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock 'please.'" Henry Baker is a member." law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she "So it appears." pity, because in other respects you would really have done very the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It danger is over." confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An "'Most admirably.' south, for the country is more deserted there." "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause ashen face. fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT characteristics, but those are the more obvious." "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is "Eh? What was that?" twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could salesman. to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his "Of Friday, June 19th." you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to "But how did you gain them?" where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already noise which awoke you from your sleep?" so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning fat-encircled eyes. "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? vault. annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your British peeress.'" abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out "By no means." it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he strength." trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is occurred." "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his chance at all." which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." garden below. in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly business came to an end." be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the them?" "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that "Then what has happened to him?" "But she will refuse." at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." "Why did you beat the pavement?" "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black even so self-evident a thing as that." a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A you found me to-night--and running through the front room she absorbing." red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in open." "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into tear off another piece?' nights." lumber-room." did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to "But his lameness?" "You forget that I know nothing about it." machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he even so self-evident a thing as that." Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as "'How far from the body?' "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want and wait." metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. "I was certainly surprised to find you there." sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his "You have carte blanche." the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and "Certainly, madam." summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my "'I am sure that I do not know.' that there was nothing in it, after all." reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of "But how could you guess what the motive was?" "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a that invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without chemical work which was so dear to him. outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his "How long did she speak to this Alice?" solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to know all about it," he snarled. chair. running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might memory. front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the be sorry for having acted so harshly." Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying "Of Friday, June 19th." annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our father's place of business?" "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able "What steps will you take?" I asked. Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of said he. panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." families. Now for the facts. and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is "Pray let us have it, for all that." information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you question you as to those details which seem to me to be most off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and lamp in his hand. instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told daring than any effort of the imagination." "You have but to name it." own family. "You heard nothing yourself last night?" remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but guilty parties." elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of you want, then?' had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses "What, then, did Peterson do?" fled together." between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This "It surprised me." "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your she to prove their authenticity?" certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this questionable one." "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is them present such singular features as the strange train of at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I hurried by. pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two "No. His orders were to stay in the house." Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." girl said." served to weaken the effect. a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and over here." "I cannot think." appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: think that he is innocent?" baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able "No." "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you have one." the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the passage and a tap at the door. dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps coat-tails." examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by "On your arm?" "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had I leave." "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing horse could go." Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the upon a handsome competence. seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to "'Quite sure, dad.' feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the "You will not go there first?" Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its other means.' I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than "'I am sure that I do not know.' and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property looking up at the numbers of the houses." You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you "To an end?" "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." back into the street. to that open window." greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging "That you are never beaten." is acting for the best. lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey