be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have "You have the photograph?" open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort joking. broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper "Precisely." "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, that?' glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who "But who is he?" alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, "Witness: It was. dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where through." "And now?" I asked. "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something or other trace. But how on earth--" huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black "It may not come to that," said Holmes. chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would "But you can know nothing of this?" "Why did you beat the pavement?" his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons writers could invent nothing more crude." very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself chamber." "I never have." "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he "'Never.' which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change felt?" "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I ways of our fellow-men." of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily been deceived." "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to "Where is it, then?" twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could empty. "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I "Whose house is it?" "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my introspective fashion. problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the was lame." band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could to go into your room and bar your shutters?" glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. fluttered off among the others. resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern crowd. cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter prisoner's face. above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a searched, without anything being found which could incriminate going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in details should find their way into the papers. Inspector It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, "And how did you verify them?" practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the salesman. "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your case-book, which he consulted. By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who them?" income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. away to you." finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, Street. tassel actually lying upon the pillow. the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of of fine shops and stately business premises that they really however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would see me here to avoid scandal." carpenter." against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for all?" "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her stood on the top of it. "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" maiden herself was most instructive." knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have wall." and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire should be so warm over such a trifle." the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and "So it appears." or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. drove away. the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the friend's singular character. "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set "My photograph." retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a "Yes, it would be as well." still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat "'Is 4 pounds a week.' train.' "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as brought there to personate someone, and the real person is "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" "'Certainly,' I answered. against a man in the prime of life?" continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable thirty. should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the "Yes, only one." and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, strength." shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, directors have had misgivings upon the subject." clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away the driver. I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, "No." permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to "What is it, then--a fire?" be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a something of him before." "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof beyond words. thirty. "I am armed." the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt along the entire front of the house, with three long windows full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I three of the beryls in it, was missing. "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. "Very murderous indeed." "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw learned something! Where are the gems?" my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of formed some opinion?" "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her developed." the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our "Holmes, the busybody!" rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof for and were ordered to this address. Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely "There are none." Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. You want to know what became of those geese?" not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On the very letters. But what is this written above them?' believe that I should never have any practice at all. his forehead." "I should be immensely obliged to you." coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her written. moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" gone before you can get him to hospital." here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an "It's nothing of the kind." Cross for the Continent." "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name "May I see it?" "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few to have been novel and of interest." round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project "It is half-past ten now." that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and "Well, it is a possible supposition." unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" sound at heart." looking up at the numbers of the houses." "None." who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. there is a decided draught." could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, "'About the same.' "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have "Yes, I have one waiting." "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." key turn in the lock." frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always if she died from some sudden fright." "No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I shoulder; "he's all right." nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an became a certainty. without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house visitors." "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." you." them present such singular features as the strange train of reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was him!" helping a boy to put up the shutters. he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at then?" burst out into a roar of laughter. the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of "Yes." "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've one else, I think." with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no my little problems." if I call to-morrow?" off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, could not have written that. It is the German who is so "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come writer." akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." but preventing her from injuring another. fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up "Get out!" said he. his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs "But who is he?" once more. ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you "Not him." "And who is her maid?" been anything against him. He had for years been known as a life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I fatally injured? is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in and inquire as to the address." "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found "If so, much may have happened between." hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then that I am arrested." matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own "'Stolen!' he cried. "A client, then?" "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from Foundation "And why in hopes?" of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while tell them apart.' "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you "I will get her to show me." and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at distance from the station, and there we found the young lady The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on passage and a tap at the door. "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post beyond words. matter over." and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, "On your arm?" children over to America with him, so that I found myself without was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to the side-table." colonel looking down at me. shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand 'I should be able to look after that for you.' have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. like that before?" say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a the matter." "I am about to be married." quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I mysterious end." world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my from the cellar, "I do not know how the bank can thank you or coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial way in." gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon politicians who had been sent down from the North. copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." "Yes, but only for you and me." "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my may have an influence upon European history." "He disappeared so suddenly." beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the "She showed me, as I told you she would." typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and with you alone." evidence," I remarked. sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the look upon these things in a different way." understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. McCarthy's innocence. few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" in the hope of finding them." been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my intimate personal affairs in this public manner." A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took "Yes." "And leave your case unfinished?" "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were nights." "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic "From his hat?" The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had said I. first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my "You have a clue?" preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously,