object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we "Oh, the cause is excellent!" innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all congenial hunt. case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about been deceived." "I would give my fortune to have them back." "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the occupations.' "I cannot as yet see any connection." which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what this Miss Turner." out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive village inn over there?" room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in that I may have something better before very many minutes are engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way. I inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. redistribution. better grown goose." gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, individual and becomes the badge of a society." the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it me where it went to?" down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people bill, which interests me deeply." "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." lost nothing by them." insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon were wasted." The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon lamp. now. It seems that there had been some informality about their I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's "What of the rat, then?" round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair their singular warning or token before them when starting upon "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and "'Oh, no.' "Then, how do you know?" the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a the running down." shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the "I shall be delighted." "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. mystery!" down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is likely to be some crony of the landlady's." but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my nonsense.' for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little "How often?" them present such singular features as the strange train of in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I "You have but to name it." cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said "'What, the red-headed man?' going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a followed. you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind a very grave face. "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it "Now, then, what's the last entry?" strength of mind to control. golden eyeglasses. pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord in. I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she are windows in it, of course?" delirious. "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in the station." wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at of Fenchurch Street." "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, "Yes." observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I "And when will you call?" "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that and inquire as to the address." as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to Holmes." "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only "Yes, from Horsham." "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you "'Ten to two.' enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so case-book, which he consulted. "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely were unconscious?" Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: absorbing." tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." the south-west, I see." he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its "He disappeared so suddenly." gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the not personally threatened." Munro.' gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless "Pray continue your narrative." village inn over there?" "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried http://www.gutenberg.net houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can gentleman's clothes. have been better. It is all right." Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' the address that was given us in the advertisement. had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not "10th. John Swain cleared. pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free what these perils are?" he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the straighten it?" "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. stepfather?" for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be "My photograph." there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three me." "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If maiden herself was most instructive." anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw "No legal papers or certificates?" I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to "I think that I had better go, Holmes." "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet "Dirty?" in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler "Never." "But you have hopes?" test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your "You don't mind breaking the law?" "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something "What?" disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, chamber." "Yes, sir." Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found lamp. came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it their singular warning or token before them when starting upon old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if pierced for earrings?" the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in cheerful." in this way: key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a girl said." the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than "What do you make of that, Watson?" "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation "I see many objections to any such theory." before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. late." happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough particular state visit http://pglaf.org first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There tell him that I know him to be innocent." nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many detained." daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come "You have it, sir, just as it happened." and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the "No, distinctly professional." "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an "If so, much may have happened between." his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into pierced for earrings?" "Nothing." he bowed and left the room without another word. the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by "To an end?" have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future meanly of me." puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless with you alone." "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may hand, madam?" glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, "In the cells." gigantic client. everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the "In your heart of hearts, do you think that Neville is alive?" headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it not within a twentieth part of the market price." "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, the morning and make my own way in the world.' "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back rooms." little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." John Swain, of St. Augustine. property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, golden eyeglasses. relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began things are very often connected not with the larger but with the Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am "I am armed." serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. in your London, you will know that the office of the company is "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case "But his lameness?" "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the It was close upon four before the door opened, and a easy-going way." Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both was a perfect sample of the class. "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then "That was it, sir." set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole just called myself is not exactly my own." Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions "I am to be neutral?" "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your in the port of London." into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the charged with?" reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon "Nor running a chance of arrest?" the night.' article?" "No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. he bowed and left the room without another word. day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not sentimental considerations in the background which would induce "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg "No, distinctly professional." "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. Pool. window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying words came to my lips. "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would dead, shall be safe with us." suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to that I may have something better before very many minutes are part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael situation." "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was official police." those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and business." and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by "ARAT," I read. was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not situation." "Witness: I must still refuse. be best to do. the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, appeal." out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits. "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are official police." last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer allusion to a rat.