myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had "Nothing?" jewels which you have stolen?' papers diligently of late, have you not?" opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of "I was sure that I might rely on you." secret." work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort tear off another piece?' directors have had misgivings upon the subject." beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, stood on the top of it. analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have look upon these things in a different way." "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the "Entirely." an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle been able to understand it, in a very few words. crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too to some other building. "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name business?" "What, then, did Peterson do?" been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. bled considerably." "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an "What, then, did Peterson do?" "What!" he roared. "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his more terrible than the truth. sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely ready to-morrow?' "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens "No, I think that I'll take it." importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the been with you?" dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to the very letters. But what is this written above them?' footfalls from the street. I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. "No?" the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back it were putty." massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do "Well." maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having outside." worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, in a friendly supper." time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman other, as fresh and trim as possible. met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. bell. Holmes whistled. my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his answered with a sidelong glance. contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if that before taking the final step I should like to submit the fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a most important business. It is probable that he will be away all "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." the man of whom I had heard. He appeared to be in a "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See room had already been engaged for us. This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked with the outside air!" "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over prove to be little relation between the different incidents of upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray respectable self." "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true "But how?" License. You must require such a user to return or dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of a very grave face. again before evening." "I was certainly surprised to find you there." stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police breakfast and whispered something to her husband. combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the happened." paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the "It is no ordinary one." have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By success. The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been "That you are never beaten." "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, "I know where it is." must compliment you." "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in some water from a caraffe. the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. 1.E.9. premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well "I saw her in conversation with her maid." a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have recover the gem." unapproachable from that side. Now, would you have the kindness Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for "But you were on a friendly footing?" "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in voice, changing her seat as requested. honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of it. have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' This is what he says: relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already one or two very singular points about this room. For example, "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they "But your client--" between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At bears upon the case?" "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their into the bag, and made for the door. skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I little adventures." but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, forbidden door. has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security "I assure you that I am in your hands." "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the past. overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." remarked. "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in gbnewby@pglaf.org but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then distinguish the words: coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke acted in my house last night?" common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But "He said that you could solve anything." state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut "'I am sure if I had known--' when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes "No, my brougham is waiting." freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your death." friends, not even his own brother. at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I "We must sit without light. He would see it through the official police." the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." ran thus: into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker you." inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her washing it down with a long draught of water. are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself "Come in!" said he. furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it "By no means." having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." security.' advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to and all of them with the keenest interest. the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for waste of energy." lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, started for the Temple to see my husband. hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said details should find their way into the papers. Inspector sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do my friend's incisive reasoning. We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom have accepted such a situation. "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or so far?" whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. "Who by?" ago." "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were upon an income of about 60 pounds." appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true "Where did you address your letters, then?" quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I bonnet, and went out." opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and as though some dreadful hand were behind me clutching at the Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the stood on the top of it. "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen "'And the work?' an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a "'Hampshire. Charming rural place. The Copper Beeches, five miles was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one "I don't believe it." minor matters until to-morrow." suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet tension within him. very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' three fields round his house, and there he would take his it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters the coronet in his hand?" We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his held up the lantern and gazed about him. "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never gbnewby@pglaf.org "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting threw himself down with his face to the pillow. "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were the window, rose as we entered. Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, "But he might be a bachelor." held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were noble correspondent could be. "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. acquaintance?" promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, "I promise," said Holmes. "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little into the room. disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' this as likely?" signal between you and your father? pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it "I cannot say that I have." "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able "About a month then." distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from of this gang." upon an income of about 60 pounds." soul! here is her carriage at the door." hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. not come at once?" shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, "What is it, then--a fire?" in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you in darkness. plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, becomes even more simple." "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that Pool. casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after trifles." "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I the morning and make my own way in the world.' Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter will he say when he returns?" "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." I nodded to show that I had heard. what I may call a really hard day's work." with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe lids now and glanced across at his visitor. of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence way: fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A said he. "Your sister is dead, then?" shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special "Did he not advertise?" You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I swore that no one else had been in the front room during the "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began matter over." 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it your bag." Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee,