until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." gone before you can get him to hospital." newspaper selections." "And your mother is alive?" cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my "No. What a strange idea!" sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. "How are you getting on?" "And from a noble client?" "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your call for protection in the marriage market, for the present hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, "But his left-handedness." the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, "You horrify me!" enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive voice, changing her seat as requested. from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble completely overtopped every other consideration that we both "Yes." "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. the armchair which I pushed forward for him. flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by eat it." with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the said he, "my real name is James Ryder." "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means his eyes and forehead. have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, "Was the window open?" "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There "A confidential servant?" force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging possible that we could bring him back to her? property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical suddenly upon us." bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have sit on the left-hand side of the driver." That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of and it need not interfere very much with one's other "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize during which he might have communicated with his friend the of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself introspective fashion. "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity at home. "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there "Eh? What was that?" low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." indiscretion." papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at bird I ate is country bred." opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss of campaign. outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis the side-table." of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." anything to do with the matter?" beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" "How long did she speak to this Alice?" crackling voice. "'Where to?' some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a could not have written that. It is the German who is so sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I "'Never,' said I. "Yes, sir." "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed IS "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight said I. so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at main points of my analysis." "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. "An accident, I presume?" tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I strode off upon his way. "Was your sister dressed?" said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, papers." "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss Foundation the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg off." eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it companion. "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I new duties?' five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there "'There is a drive, then?' "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce "Yes." the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. Young McCarthy must be got off, however." poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I "'Yes, I promise.' "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My business." the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always absorbing." society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in "Not him." "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking with her." Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and Surrey." he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is imbecility!" he cried. been." with the outside air!" hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the "Look there!" said he. arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the about. Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped tied." The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater what do you think they found in the pockets?" existence." answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what light and attacked it." confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what in him." to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. This is what he says: "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking "I cannot imagine." the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the Gutenberg-tm License. follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself least a most suspicious remark." Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a of Fenchurch Street." of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than himself. "To an English lawyer named Norton." "'Tell me all about it,' said I. you?" "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very as the one I chose?' hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that and all of them with the keenest interest. "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the away in different directions, and I went off to make my own quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at disappearance of the bride.'" the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission "'I am sure if I had known--' dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases an introduction to him?" overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the fear." Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who The summons was a brief and urgent one. doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we I was concerned in it." such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain purpose equally well?" "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time "Why did you pick him?" lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, and the colonel ushered me in. hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who "I know where it is." pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that If you but make such reparation as is in your power, by telling platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. strength of mind to control. but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, "Her father is very rich?" "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him "Nothing?" "Pray let us have it, for all that." stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She highroad, where all traces were lost. the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the the driver. must compliment you." station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. "Yes, from Horsham." "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" have been better. It is all right." his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is "I have sworn it by the most solemn oaths which a man can take." investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and bachelor.' access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. own family. arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and "Perhaps we may make them less so." I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This "'What are you doing there?' he asked. possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord "Upon what point?" "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take strength." abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing in the dead of the night?' not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the an introduction to him?" waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced lamp in his hand. is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." name is different." so.' work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, and the church but not where the lady lived." red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in allusion to a rat. "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the Have you good authority for what you say?" original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these business?" "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." "'And the work?' a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is been anything against him. He had for years been known as a many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" pressing in one house as in another. him and tried to hold him back. looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael business came to an end." where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend I nodded to show that I had heard. another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, directors, with the result that you have seen." "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He "And now?" I asked. disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular their singular warning or token before them when starting upon "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy hardly wander." noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I Surrey." "I am to be neutral?" from the brougham. know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation closely." elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out would then never go into court at all." while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our "At the wedding breakfast." Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be DISSOLVED. The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my "It is true that I have been generally successful." official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as undoubtedly my uncle's." a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given think that any burglar could have done. all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the "Can I be of assistance?" applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true "Oh, the cause is excellent!" "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country "'You doubt its value?' he asked. Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed "I will, Miss Turner." "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all said he. "And you can do nothing until then?" we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to thin, with a long, sharp nose?" sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our