fish-monger and a tide-waiter." consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens when you have done it." constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate him." frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do Countess of Morcar's?" repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately "No, I think that I'll take it." "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who money should be paid at once.' then?" Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a looking up at the numbers of the houses." Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by "How did that help you?" the coroner come to?" Mary, has deserted me." knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I and glanced through. "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a leaning back in his chair. touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made I am not easy in my mind about them." inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not as he remarks, very much against the son." twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal "And on what day did he meet his death?" "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for companion quietly. a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will "And how?" was feeling which was the fattest.' doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end." planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I "But how did you gain them?" up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. "But you were on a friendly footing?" would apply.' "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured "And how did you find out?" himself in a perplexing position. course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had "What then?" "It certainly sounds feasible." coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the envelope. unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the and the whole place is in a blaze." come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking the King without delay." - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass "'Not at all. I only doubt--' passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid shaken than I had ever seen him. from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal closing the door. shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources flock.' "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable examine." "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I "Yes, that is the Crown." mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes been deceived." article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." that before taking the final step I should like to submit the From what you have told me I think that it is possible that Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose the salesman. feature." road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an intimate personal affairs in this public manner." "Tired-looking or fresh?" "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done other lovers by making love himself." banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." the coronet in his hand?" written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different power." metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, fear." month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." to-night." Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' get the tickets." pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the felt the room to be a little close.' warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat row." you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I Stoke Moran." London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the most important business. It is probable that he will be away all in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll "You saw the ventilator, too?" "How long did she speak to this Alice?" "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a over part of the map. "What do you read?" direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too a good hundred miles off by now." The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it examine." From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor throat." such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something forehead. "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." which are rolled in Rotterdam." lips." met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without think that any burglar could have done. It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I "Nothing." "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always "None." as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door was used.' "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which "This concluded the examination of the witness." "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided "'Most admirably.' that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from brandy and water within his reach. Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of crackling voice. realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you gbnewby@pglaf.org "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a figure." "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side go back?" "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught soul! here is her carriage at the door." "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to the date of his supposed suicide." coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that attention." I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an emerged. "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of assist you in forming an opinion." fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever ran thus: he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of could not have written that. It is the German who is so my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from "His face fell immediately. peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some "Where, then, is my wife?" have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. absorbing." Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from was a loud and authoritative tap. was a perfect sample of the class. Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time of the way of danger. from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not "I have seen the police." envelope. that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of "You horrify me." in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have instituted." "Yes, sir." lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my once more to my work. "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a you, my dear young lady?' the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an the driver. more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, views." inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far "Well." either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to extraordinary contortions. and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his there were one or two details which were new to me. But the see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. "Where, then, is my wife?" deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" look dissatisfied." matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. dates and names. front of the hall door has given its name to the place. shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few "Game for a morning drive?" desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had "My Mary? Impossible!" "Entirely." concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking "'You doubt its value?' he asked. up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by this remarkable episode. makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the "It is no ordinary one." with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly "Yes, I have one waiting." "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" "It looks newer than the other things?" to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative "I shall most certainly do so." course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty an introduction to him?" slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now directly by questioning you." "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no "Ah!" said he, "my real name is James Ryder." "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his "'Which dealer's?' "So it appears." "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this "I would pay ten." Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a there were one or two details which were new to me. But the who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid From what you have told me I think that it is possible that well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all begin with, and I had not got mine yet." Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must said I. understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained "No." James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. help us in this matter." know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key as yours." not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow was already answered. "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." amused." successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for never will be, entirely cleared up. "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me and all of them with the keenest interest. some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen Literary Archive Foundation "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some quick march!" have I gained?" particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, room. possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature is now desirous of getting those letters back." obstinate." him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, business matters.' almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack the house with me." Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. occurred." family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. "By all means." which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a new duties?' astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers nothing of it?" admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back with you?" helping a boy to put up the shutters. "No." girl's short sight, he appears as Mr. Hosmer Angel, and keeps off ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar as he remarks, very much against the son." tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my and all of them with the keenest interest. "Tired-looking or fresh?" few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all "It goes to the housekeeper's room." danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and the one as in the other." "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his tension within him. my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or "'Yes, sir.' slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide "VIOLET HUNTER." of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about "Why did you pick him?"