inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." maiden herself was most instructive." her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of "That is it on the dressing-table." pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He quite distinctive." myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if what is your own theory as to what took place?" the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very examination of the premises, but without finding anything which something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every him!" bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, tied." whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first must compliment you." cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which asked. "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his "Nothing?" charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of "You are hungry," I remarked. "I will, Miss Turner." "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him never to learn it at all." fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. "But not more so than I to find you." "None." prisoner's face. affection." and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. horse could go." was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the about. shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me "No." these bleak autumnal evenings." "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of weighed down with some great anxiety. "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a If you but make such reparation as is in your power, by telling extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm "At what time?" "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture Farm upon the left." house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now "Yes. He waved his hands." "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." society." business in the City. She little knew what. laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and hour." who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. conceal it?" forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' the man of whom I had heard. He appeared to be in a which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt least a most suspicious remark." reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington States. Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily "I cannot say that I have." "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens will be renamed. said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a "ARAT," I read. heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered most important business. It is probable that he will be away all "I was sure that I might rely on you." yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, answered with a sidelong glance. "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always delirious. threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after politicians who had been sent down from the North. 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which to that open window." "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who "'Where to?' "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" go back?" putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in the house with me." "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. mystery may be cleared along those lines." Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely sneer upon his pale face. centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the me." same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she directors have had misgivings upon the subject." It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he records." sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been careless servant girl?" which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and "But how?" got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is about. to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was conversation I have gathered that they have been married about awaited us upon the table. About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for kind enough to tell me what I should do." step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, and effective." Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to one of them." Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one something of him before." "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of States. electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the more solid." 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's James Windibank running at the top of his speed down the road. circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense there." with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed what I may call a really hard day's work." With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I he died? exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of "What have you to say now?" are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church be. eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that cheerful." Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of business." both be extremely obliged.' "Yesterday." reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." acted in my house last night?" latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on "Nothing." will be renamed. might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. "That also I could fathom." minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with call for protection in the marriage market, for the present set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the Arthur Conan Doyle was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the spare." chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event "'A dozen yards or so.' existence." ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The always that they were such commands as a lady might with whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the fatally injured? on in his house." elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more your co-operation." nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was had formerly been in part my own. dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in Henry Baker is a member." dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black of." the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and gigantic client. and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no was a perfect sample of the class. "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without redistribution. "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start noise which awoke you from your sleep?" finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried trifles." the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. "Never." of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small will he say when he returns?" "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my mysterious end." Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man "I was sure that I might rely on you." "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in my former friend and companion. threw himself down with his face to the pillow. "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. trifles." Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My shag which I had seen upon the previous night. directly by questioning you." him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. guilty parties." did not hear it also.' other means.' yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg matters immensely." to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and will take you up to see the machine.' from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save "Indeed! Whose, then?" "Ah, but I was recommended to you." The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. "I should like to see him very much." suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? "Well, some hundreds of times." stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, chamber." "'There is a drive, then?' the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. "'Never.' until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose "'A dozen yards or so.' without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present "I warn you that they are very incomplete." Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: about. evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. "'It is locked up,' I answered. "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend main points of my analysis." the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as "I was certainly surprised to find you there." a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the that before taking the final step I should like to submit the "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop "No, but the enclosure is." confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take place of silver." Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself that threaten you." little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We lost nothing by them." family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was "And your mother is alive?" me, and I could not think that his explanation of the and prosperity to your house. Good-night." eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door "I am about to be married." work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the "Then I am your man." "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must meanly of me." employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, geese which you supplied to the Alpha." Literary Archive Foundation locked." through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. character. "Dr. Becher's." "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I never to learn it at all." determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and "Pray do so." the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to "Breckinridge is his name." destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." Pool. with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and "You have carte blanche." The summons was a brief and urgent one. of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to coat-tails." and prosperity to your house. Good-night." rooms." "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded "And how did you verify them?" which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman have I gained?" convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." been anything against him. He had for years been known as a Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of opportunities to fix the problem. from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the child?' "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure "What office?" I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be thought that she would have been so carried away." off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works