compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you I am not easy in my mind about them." The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." "I know where it is." happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my in his power. "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, "The doctor?" hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who fact, we may call it conclusive." "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, "Pray let us have it, for all that." points to suicide?" rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I "What have you to say now?" inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the begun to whiten, even as mine has." "'Hampshire. Charming rural place. The Copper Beeches, five miles for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an himself to tell his story. The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another as yours." the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. chance." than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall "It may not come to that," said Holmes. cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly likely to be some crony of the landlady's." from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a "What! Had he lost his wife?" lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker "You are all wrong." was the fact that his father should, according to his account, in my life." Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up "You have but to name it." The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set "What shall I do?" despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But papers must be those that are destroyed.' "You think that he is dead?" "It is half-past ten now." said I. standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side made his money." river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" himself to tell his story. there were so many in the whole country as were brought together fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch "His face fell immediately. awaited us upon the table. laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the "Then I am your man." "And why?" she slowly sank and died without having recovered her very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, "Yes, there are nearly always some there." road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how other means.' have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in Holmes." in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of "I think that it is very probable." of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of down from London to inquire more deeply into it." "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my newspaper selections." wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. "No more words. Get out!" pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something "Oh, yes, easily." perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds "When did it break out?" "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses "Precisely." Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with "Then you may entirely rely on me." "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out and files of the old papers, following the future career of every went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should call for it in person on Monday morning.' could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that in his power. a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have "A call for help, you thought?" "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you not use it unless it is absolutely needed." but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my "Then, how do you know?" "I think that it is very probable." better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking made his money." been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that habit of advancing money.' merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to the room while you explain this matter?" fuss that is made over them." great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my reach." "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into Mary, has deserted me." one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a in him." what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the exactly what you advise." not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, learned something! Where are the gems?" "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in "Holmes, the busybody!" on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this strong and stiff." There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I spark where all is dark to me." in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to conceal it?" "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. into the bag, and made for the door. reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom "The Cedars?" shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of "Will you bet, then?" "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," have had none more fantastic than this." "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. approach us with offers to donate. open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have down from London to inquire more deeply into it." his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To been anything against him. He had for years been known as a uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used "No, I had a dozen." may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the "That's no good." dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little ready to-morrow?' Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very him a price for the stones he held--1000 pounds apiece. That "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father arrangements." "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could "The vanishing of the lady." whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send as he remarks, very much against the son." would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of morning." that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of "Eh? What was that?" joking. you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly with the outside air!" partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City "I am about to be married." the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been you." against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO "It looks newer than the other things?" the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford "I have solved it." Cross for the Continent." he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. singular points about the case. What did the police think of the upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may "Stoke Moran?" said he. "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we did not hear it also.' would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the and the colonel ushered me in. dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been thirty. continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his "'What, the red-headed man?' is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden married her." true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her she used." child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By to-night." he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by of the vacancies.' the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at him to be an active member of the medical profession." in the hope of finding them." not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of flock.' to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE "I came to find a friend." written, and locked the door of the office after me. which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." "You heard nothing yourself last night?" wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be felt the room to be a little close.' Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common whereabouts. of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the "At the wedding breakfast." stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming house for five minutes.' "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled face and glided from the room. "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is "Eh? What was that?" three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but This is what he says: withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination ourselves in the office." uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with beg that you will break it off." may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming ourselves in the office." towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, it right.' cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should gone before you can get him to hospital." across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact again to the corner, still looking keenly at the houses. Finally my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among License. You must require such a user to return or and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty would then never go into court at all." the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. "Nearly eleven." bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get "'What are you doing there?' he asked. whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, "The best possible." weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel returned to France?" darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot other means.' settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way think that any burglar could have done. called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in "But his left-handedness." young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now that, and I came down." "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall "Yes, I have one waiting." above the wrist, where the typewritist presses against the table, writer." bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not could go. "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until business." ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet since then to throw any light upon what became of him." "So it appears." in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and chamber." to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing Holmes. wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been This is what he says: "Precisely." companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question individual and becomes the badge of a society." "Yes." strength in the others." the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by late." I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though "Did he not advertise?" but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler "He slept on the premises." saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any "'Ten to two.' Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had business." arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of