fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had may never be exposed to such a temptation." happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and "But he might be a bachelor." heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. papers." derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would abroad, and he has been in failing health for some time. This "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler The King stared at him in amazement. I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this the one as in the other." "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as "Yes, I have one waiting." "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been standing smiling on the door-step. flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss overpowering excitement and concern. "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her matter over." have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads residence of the great financier. borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." "Won't it ring?" the bottom.' seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of "Not him." preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from which are rolled in Rotterdam." which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, right! Sit down and let us talk it over." standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a I leave." even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a "Where is it, then?" Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and "The best possible." which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw overpowering excitement and concern. burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while results." awkward doing business with an alias." incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will respectable self." there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to crackling voice. "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open both be extremely obliged.' your equipment. full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of "We have tried and failed." where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank "'Ten to two.' it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should "'What do you call purely nominal?' down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, him a price for the stones he held--1000 pounds apiece. That "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little morning." "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was six. Come in!" time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" "Then he might have called to you?" said I. rooms." "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" "Indeed, it is a likely ruse enough," observed Bradstreet "Well, it is a possible supposition." waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each "Who by?" rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There "You are certainly joking, Holmes." Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City vault. of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom, have accepted such a situation. too. copied or distributed: fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this Foundation of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but "He slept on the premises." "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to "I have hopes." its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property pressing in one house as in another. "Indeed! Whose, then?" quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. "What can you not understand?" Lee, in the county of Kent." "Yes, the wine-cellar." it means?" "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." not, dad?" she asked. arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood experiences." association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon place of silver." of." the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but do.' what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of would be as well for you to have your pistol ready." "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing fishes. sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. "Yesterday." make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, better grown goose." "Imitated." towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." "Won't it ring?" since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his "Because he was handy and would come cheap." someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his "Then I shall certainly come." and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout guilty one." matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's key turn in the lock." "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness prove to be little relation between the different incidents of "Have you her photograph?" ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. sneer upon his pale face. wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the ceremony." hour." said Mr. Holder. It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were "I shall most certainly do so." was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite all that?" "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two shoulder. shall use the carriage to-night." his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you it with his own hands." Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm are, I think, all that we need." chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had it." "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one "'You cannot say what it was?' narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a "But of what society?" see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of what I may call a really hard day's work." many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no "Dark enough and sinister enough." 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted "Breckinridge is his name." recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the joking. floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" "What! You do not mean bodies?" "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them foresight and the moral retrogression?" likely to be some crony of the landlady's." room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just photograph?" shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the "The knees of his trousers." watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have "The knees of his trousers." stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that "But to whom?" headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. the child." relief. for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be "'I am sure if I had known--' "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his me what he had done with the three missing stones. "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover *** START: FULL LICENSE *** walking." He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, people don't know." standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert "And I to find an enemy." a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My page at http://pglaf.org business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with "Can I be of assistance?" results." very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were "I was afraid that you were engaged." Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been cheerful." "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of comes from the middle window." sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly Chief Executive and Director "Very much so." the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter bird of prey. "Well, it is a possible supposition." horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any frequently gained my first real insight into the character of bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can whereabouts. stammered. Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided morning." crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of strong reason behind." very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well walking." get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can hardly wander." He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased "What have you to say now?" third from London." road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a suspect him." few hundred pounds.' of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man place of silver." companion. Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, question. glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. "What do you mean?" said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand "And leave your case unfinished?" thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler populous neighbourhood." or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work child?' through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. some place of shelter and let the county police know what has "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. one which it was hard to resist. "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily Holmes' room. the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he miles off. cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always is a common subject for conversation. and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll she might be summoned. reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty "That is easily got." "Yes, at the mines." his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" photograph a cabinet?" in. the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside "Perhaps I have." "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, entirely devoid of interest." "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress third from London." Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, over part of the map. "What do you read?" the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. asked with his eyes open. some place of shelter and let the county police know what has "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. think that any burglar could have done. that, and I came down." house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by his grey eyes. my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a "The vanishing of the lady." speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, presented more singular features than that which was associated Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch you." delighted to hear it," he said. Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the James Windibank. Voilà tout!" unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you photograph?" never came back." directors have had misgivings upon the subject." "Why did you pick him?" stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate "Now, then, what's the last entry?" "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I train.' "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." "Pray tell us what has happened to you." Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in "Stolen, then." seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which "She told me to ask you." I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants,