"I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the upon the shelf for the interim." drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive "How did you trace it, then?" "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been careless servant girl?" "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies present." estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a "How are you getting on?" the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it a good hundred miles off by now." mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of "It is possible." "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with for the market.' he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, imbecility!" he cried. "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. "I have sworn it by the most solemn oaths which a man can take." he bowed and left the room without another word. dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely "Pray do so." "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone "In heaven's name, what for?" affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate to-night." which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler washing it down with a long draught of water. "Were they all fastened this morning?" "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of brought there to personate someone, and the real person is be there in time for your coming." understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it "Never." Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout any more." Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything "Yes." insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the "To an English lawyer named Norton." it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the yards of it?' "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed "Nothing." questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I followed. eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in "'Certainly not. But why?' stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind present." It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. "'Where could I find him?' the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that For additional contact information: "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not the salesman. which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small "I am following you closely," I answered. how narrow had been my escape. even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at our word." "My dear Holmes!" with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the swore that no one else had been in the front room during the "In your heart of hearts, do you think that Neville is alive?" to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. speckled band?" "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son which we had just quitted. "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, States. and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of "Absolutely none." prisoner's face. "She will not sell." slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder "But he might be a bachelor." chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 said I. twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the call you and give you the chance." works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their chance." "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards "And how have you succeeded?" frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in tension within him. The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in lamp in his hand. grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight "Yes, sir." attention." "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you "Come in!" said Holmes. agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few "And your mother is alive?" "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am name is different." Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant "Well, some hundreds of times." would apply.' "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." had died away into the silence from which it rose. drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you "Proceed, then." last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." "BALLARAT." "Very murderous indeed." "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' Sutherland?" written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob "I think that it is very probable." us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the hand, madam?" building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a them?" no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his vague figure huddled up in the darkness. have one." the loss of it. drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was quick march!" finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first mystery!" summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the charged with?" dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with Again Holmes raved in the air. and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" "Murdered?" are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had which we had just quitted. we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, note?" "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was "And how did you find out?" following enigmatical notices: McCarthy's innocence. this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been unclasping of his long thin hands. "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the was lame." a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. crime." front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler friends, not even his own brother. coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it "Oh, fresh and glossy." me. that you wished to speak to me?' one else, I think." "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must "You think that he is dead?" He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in chambers. in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case "And I." about. "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I key of the affair now." When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in "But you have hopes?" some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. towards the blaze. tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well "No." any more." "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would kindly on the shoulder. nothing of it?" very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would amused." "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." "Was there a secret marriage?" spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the "I have my revolver," said I. my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine ordered fresh rashers and eggs, and joined us in a hearty meal. he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly fatally injured? mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must interested in these little problems, and since you are good himself. "I should be immensely obliged to you." hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the "But who is he?" note?" Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. in the hope of finding them." Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are awaited us upon the table. my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off "I am about to be married." remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic "What do you mean?" passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of "I came to find a friend." maid will bring up your coffee." "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my so.' "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out fled together." tell me that you intended to go into harness." "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. "Then, how do you know?" my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" how narrow had been my escape. France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread washing it down with a long draught of water. the coronet at all injured?" the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the made him keep the appointment." We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire *** START: FULL LICENSE *** hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. "So I have heard." "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my The King stared at him in amazement. which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her the side-table." square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. "I see no marks." "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four "And how did you verify them?" 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I it? Did I buy the geese off you?" purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming up this clue while it is still hot." "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against "My private note-paper." Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, Holmes. moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were green of the new foliage. to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where "Married! When?" reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. advice." train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, posted to-day." was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and "It is possible." examine." "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at chill to my heart. and your relations to her." which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the he died? left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small long narrative. But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter weary and pale-looking. "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: "The gentleman I describe." "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple "I cannot think." cigars in their mouths. than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock III. "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the matters immensely." "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in once more on the important position which you have been fortunate would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of hurried by. of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric quite distinctive." brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the "'Where could I find him?' "'I have heard so.' "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. because she had spent so short a time in this country that she paper in the air. that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad shadow pass over his face as I spoke. "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness that behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed from the brougham. "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes what is your own theory as to what took place?" assist you in forming an opinion." disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know."