"So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin other lovers by making love himself." "You did not overhear what they said?" have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, not as remarkable as your advertisement." unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding Holmes." 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after train from Paddington which would bring you there at about "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" "My last client of the sort was a king." were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before "None. Neville wrote those words." writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came little adventures." morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to away in different directions, and I went off to make my own "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question "Quite so. She has her freedom." "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very reach." "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that I leave." companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of "It may not come to that," said Holmes. possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our not, dad?" she asked. experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one I nodded to show that I had heard. impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered "I cannot say that I have." transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office papers must be those that are destroyed.' Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can "Breckinridge is his name." Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, "'And what are they worth?' I asked. better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some During two years I have had three consultations and one small "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little which are rolled in Rotterdam." absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I morning." iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where confronted him. part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. your equipment. "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, "'Is 4 pounds a week.' The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been that threaten you." clang of the bell. "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their detective. "And how have you succeeded?" Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is "No good news?" an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and and the whole place is in a blaze." "No, distinctly professional." showing my impatience. one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start "Proceed, then." and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their hereditary King of Bohemia." society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, "But how could you guess what the motive was?" anything to do with the matter?" any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried "Well, some hundreds of times." corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you "And help." of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and father's place of business?" was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself "It is to him that this trophy belongs." slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end have accepted such a situation. "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His for and were ordered to this address. "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." "It may not come to that," said Holmes. "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, I nodded to show that I had heard. prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural "You'll never persuade me to believe that." down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when vault. very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a "BALLARAT." understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those should be taken.' be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking recall any case within my experience which looked at the first many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of knowledge of the world." the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in quick march!" "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a "Yes, all." bird I ate is country bred." reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had along the entire front of the house, with three long windows chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very "Six out and six back. Nothing simpler. You say yourself that the signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster you for a few hours?" "You will not go there first?" one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are he. said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had hopeless attempt at recovering them." lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so "Yes, only one." *** START: FULL LICENSE *** go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in unclasping of his long thin hands. vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that take the flies, but not before." occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, if only as a check to my own memory." civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and "And when will you call?" "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in "Have you her photograph?" and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into Arthur Conan Doyle The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which 1.F. for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've dear old homesteads?" nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm coat-tails." man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, been anything against him. He had for years been known as a 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the little adventures." remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare point in the dark hollow of his hand. commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety husband's writing, madam." the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO fait accompli?" unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you sound at heart." "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with It may be so in this case, also." sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." Eyford." one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be "Yesterday." interests were the same as his." Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, "Ah, but I was recommended to you." and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt security.' closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress "But the mystery?" and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said with some details as to your case." that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my thirty. it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man not as remarkable as your advertisement." Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across *** START: FULL LICENSE *** presented which may be striking and bizarre without being charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He "You are certainly joking, Holmes." "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of been lifted and conveyed somewhere." impression behind it as though a window had gently closed will be renamed. desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will detained." It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. helping a boy to put up the shutters. "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper hard-headed British jury." labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham "We were both in the photograph." shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of back alive. "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's "What then?" conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. entirely lost his self-respect." States. rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers outbreak?" shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward "'And what are they worth?' I asked. caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. "Oh, fresh and glossy." calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that look dissatisfied." eavesdroppers?' drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am "A thing like a cleaver," said he. "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a such attractions and accomplishments?' serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own "Your sister is dead, then?" clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The asked. charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the strength." home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over character. week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching "Yes." ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. "What will you do, then?" Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm "Do you go out much in society?" dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of "I don't believe it." "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at little trying to do so much typewriting?" "In the cells." "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. "Holmes, the busybody!" "So I am. Very much so." "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four "What do you make of that, Watson?" I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional had a long day." and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his ready to-morrow?' this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than when you have done it." "It is no ordinary one." "Not in a good cause." have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body other means.' said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, placed his cuttings. everything which you would wish to know." a good hundred miles off by now." seem to you to be relevant or not." really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." "None. Neville wrote those words." direction." "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. against a man in the prime of life?" greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we than to us. offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary chambers. a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' respectable self." say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a "Where to?" "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open.