"Can I be of assistance?" if I call to-morrow?" was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of in a very precise fashion." "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two gbnewby@pglaf.org planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an o'clock is it?" was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed papers must be those that are destroyed.' who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be "Really! You surprise me." "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still been lifted and conveyed somewhere." bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let impression behind it as though a window had gently closed "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue "If so, much may have happened between." like gravel from a pit.' "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly "But how did you gain them?" country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who indeed which he could not unravel. is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The vague figure huddled up in the darkness. "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at I shall communicate with you." as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might amused." pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You the coronet at all injured?" always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." trifles." to that open window." smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as some city in a dream. I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him "I fear not." "But he might be a bachelor." he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's child?' hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" I was concerned in it." past. clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There daring than any effort of the imagination." "From his hat?" "But your client--" "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be "'Which dealer's?' Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge "I know where it is." know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new "Yes." "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the "Was he the only applicant?" bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the directors have had misgivings upon the subject." actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make humiliation." ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret suspect him." money should be paid at once.' way in everything. "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously o'clock is it?" year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this events than those which have happened in my own family." the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." "What can you not understand?" stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES "'Where could I find him?' many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the "One horse?" interjected Holmes. whereabouts. "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just with some details as to your case." The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to which I could not give. He asked for Alice. part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from she to prove their authenticity?" "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you "My stepfather's business papers." "What can it mean?" I gasped. though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a the general public were present, then?" room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the placed his cuttings. planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began to take care of herself." sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, "You horrify me." "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the but preventing her from injuring another. "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at said he. to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little awkward doing business with an alias." at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending and the church but not where the lady lived." "'You doubt its value?' he asked. "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with without success. At last the little money which I had saved began passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it "BALLARAT." happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to congratulate you again." Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of once more on the important position which you have been fortunate Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. "My opinion is in no way altered." the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in "How can you tell that?" reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his "Eh? What was that?" "You were travelling in the States?" his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious "That was it, sir." especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until enter Dr. Roylott's room." "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." "I am about to be married." jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." beg that you will break it off." everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes think, you have already met." flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were opened a pocket-book and took out a note. "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there tell him that I know him to be innocent." a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in and glanced through. At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. foot. in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing notes," he said. his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. "How on earth--" she might be summoned. bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the "Well, it is a possible supposition." the coronet in his hands?" was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us "That you are never beaten." I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed beg that you will break it off." "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional too. coat-tails." with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, the room while you explain this matter?" with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten "'Ample.' At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits. the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and have one." "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he taking in every detail of the apartment. until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in see me here to avoid scandal." interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, brandy and water within his reach. of the way of danger. "No, I had a dozen." And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official "She walked into the breakfast-room." have established a very serious case against the son of the "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than chemical work which was so dear to him. Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. "How do you know, then?" course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in ways including including checks, online payments and credit card two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked "Have you her photograph?" "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, companion. little adventures." surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must populous neighbourhood." a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was correct than the official force." light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no help us in this matter." likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I "Oh, yes, easily." to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." more terrible than the truth. knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with late!' thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now "That is it on the dressing-table." clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a outsides of the windows. greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she my room." when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it comes from the middle window." a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same morning." theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that laugh and put his lips to my ear. this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have The police have openly confessed that they can at present make reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, "You horrify me!" "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for bachelor.' Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at "I cannot imagine." fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door over his head with a sweet womanly caress. residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a society." are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." "And how did he make his money?" strong and stiff." wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we "Thank you. And your address?" before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his humiliation." eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the "But you have hopes?" right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his "'Which dealer's?' from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the "Yes, it was twisted." said he. throat." stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, tail." Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the "Thank you. Pray proceed." and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt "Married! When?" remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do "What office?" "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward there were so many in the whole country as were brought together "I have my revolver," said I. name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me