side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said "Nothing?" fear." The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. are windows in it, of course?" back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double redistribution. description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading was already answered. Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that read over the extraordinary announcement. which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm at my own good fortune. mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man "I was mad--insane." "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to at a side door. my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There the tragedy. crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is "'I have already given you my word.' "He said too much." Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain your sleep?' "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in "In which, sir?" "Why, what do you mean?" writer." long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish floor. British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and dates and names. "'Where could I find him?' we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he written, and locked the door of the office after me. sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can Mary, has deserted me." him and tried to hold him back. his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." "'Yes, I promise.' then?" down. "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my bell. Holmes whistled. "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over and it need not interfere very much with one's other again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the "Then what has happened to him?" think you a quite exceptional woman." my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet "Just look it up, then." In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by present strange and interesting features that it is no easy is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the a good hundred miles off by now." concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort matter." remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and before the coroner and the police-court." man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his "You'll never persuade me to believe that." "What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote four million human beings all jostling each other within the "Yes." "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, started for the Temple to see my husband. this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it companion quietly. through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which and capable of preserving a secret.' congenial hunt. "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the some terrible trap for her." building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from "You don't mind breaking the law?" met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he clang of the bell. Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. gbnewby@pglaf.org have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition opportunities to fix the problem. deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass recall any case within my experience which looked at the first "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. "But how will you look?" down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. I think that I could be of assistance to you." fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." bell. Holmes whistled. be there in time for your coming." "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of lamp in his hand. go back?" "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, hurried away. "Is he quiet?" "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and his forehead." freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were "Texas, I think." of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to was a perfect sample of the class. by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an his face which made him a very different person to the round, upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said along the entire front of the house, with three long windows present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered and the whole place is in a blaze." as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are "What have you to say now?" rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek companion quietly. "What are they?" been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in undoubtedly my uncle's." of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he "Could he throw no light?" simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the "I cannot imagine." the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. Chief Executive and Director that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, the running down." "One of the highest in England." "It is a murder, then?" contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and "Not him." "What!" he roared. broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she "Your French gold?" as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the in one or two places in England?' was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, "Really! You surprise me." "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' "You are all wrong." "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather gone. "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and records." wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid salesman. manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. fasten all the windows?" afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. meant." in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the bachelor.' "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my "Where, then?" young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! with her." "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast "'Not at all. I only doubt--' "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and your Highness to the police-station?" would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia posted to-day." "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies "'Quite sure, dad.' get the tickets." some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a "None. Neville wrote those words." "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your despair." "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' had a long day." "My stepfather's business papers." rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got telegram would bring me down to your help." towards the blaze. our word." to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' silent! Oh, he will be silent!' "Yes, there are nearly always some there." and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I "'I am sure that I do not know.' wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark already been minutely examined." your own bird, so if you wish--" "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. ceremony." suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, people in all walks of life. "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left "What?" ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug "'I am sure if I had known--' back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to matter." There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin interests were the same as his." "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be night.' said he. and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been promised to bring home. answered with a sidelong glance. suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his the iron safe, which he closed upon it. "No, my brougham is waiting." "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of matters immensely." the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never my special province." King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' green of the new foliage. with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the of them has the shutters up.' significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable had formerly been in part my own. have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and vague figure huddled up in the darkness. return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry "On your arm?" "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight shaken than I had ever seen him. and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers which we had just quitted. have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may power." He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a "I cannot as yet see any connection." never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it said he, "my real name is James Ryder." so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of astonishment. been lifted and conveyed somewhere." reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if "My private note-paper." which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is crowd. "And how in the world did you find them?" company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. "I cannot think." my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." "Quite so." sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is must be when I saw the door open.' was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs "Thank you. And your address?" dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective "I think it very unlikely." fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he empty. make me his representative both with the servants and with the and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what people don't know." singular points about the case. What did the police think of the he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of constraint." arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of confronted him. superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. second window is the one that I jumped from." devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I sake, don't!" "It is possible." whole matter to your consideration." enter into my head. "And you don't know his address?" "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that Leave Paddington by the 11:15." unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the crime." legal crime." then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' I took the paper from him and read as follows: these bleak autumnal evenings." hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then said he at last. "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and fluttered off among the others. For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a place no limit on the sum I may draw." than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, I leave." Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my You can understand that this register and diary may implicate prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax "Then he might have called to you?" cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed done what I asked you, Jones?" "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope spark where all is dark to me." to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I "I warn you that they are very incomplete." were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a "Nothing." roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to forehead. towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I "I think it very unlikely." values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of and all of them with the keenest interest. could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four his eyes and forehead. remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness "I know where it is." "Yes." to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come Leave Paddington by the 11:15." "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and lids now and glanced across at his visitor. tail."