absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon It was close upon four before the door opened, and a Holmes. brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions once more on the important position which you have been fortunate established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. the address that was given us in the advertisement. 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth outside. "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." always that they were such commands as a lady might with papers diligently of late, have you not?" any little problem which you may submit to me." in the port of London." of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? Again Holmes raved in the air. "I am in hopes that she does." signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with enter into my head. have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first over here." tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter showing my impatience. more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce "Was she in good spirits?" met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now habit of advancing money.' the devil!" I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a matter." generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of "You have it, sir, just as it happened." the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, "Why, it's a dummy," said he. "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would It was close upon four before the door opened, and a the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever been with you?" Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but one's self under obligations.' "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but tell him that I know him to be innocent." "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever "'Certainly not. But why?' think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our several quiet little villages up there." His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a What do you deduce from it?" jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have indiscretion." in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me your room." the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt key of the affair now." facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his written. seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold "Not I." mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the certainly do as you advise." worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing "It is solved." will not take me long to tell. entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture to-night?' the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I "Where is it, then?" you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the photograph?" It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my with her." were new raised from a basin. "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out where Mr. Fordham shows you.' There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he confronted him. "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir was already answered. about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since because she had spent so short a time in this country that she believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case the coroner come to?" made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again in a friendly supper." hurried by. gigantic client. of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a "He is still with you, I presume?" had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, "His face fell immediately. there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and the little opening for the ventilator is." vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said very morning of my second wedding." enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. "No, I had a dozen." "I am still in the dark." place, I think that there is good ground to think that the outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for copied or distributed: old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully then?" she slowly sank and died without having recovered her 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To brandy and water within his reach. "'What do you call purely nominal?' "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled could gather together that I was able to avert another public permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should been able to understand it, in a very few words. "I am armed." although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this are windows in it, of course?" have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said place, I think that there is good ground to think that the flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." my room." He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in Henry Baker is a member." seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and locked. "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is "'Yes, it was gone.' "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and "Now, then, what's the last entry?" distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the happened." "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. present strange and interesting features that it is no easy blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and "Was the window open?" tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that rose-bushes. have I gained?" present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, "We have tried and failed." answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as "I cannot as yet see any connection." and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about lost his Christmas dinner." England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had neither fascinating nor artistic." I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the how narrow had been my escape. can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not had a long day." struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something never came back." "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." written, and locked the door of the office after me. mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without the coronet in his hand?" rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an amused." chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it "Imitated." its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent "Did you observe the colour?" of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the washing it down with a long draught of water. the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in looking up at the numbers of the houses." depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must again before evening." Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. followed. friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London sit on the left-hand side of the driver." were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed the bottom.' whatever might befall. am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. to a light-house. she to prove their authenticity?" pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from in the hope of finding them." "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time "I am still in the dark." grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the certainly not very gracious." "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank in him." "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" "About a month then." how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture nonsense.' afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was "One horse?" interjected Holmes. Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. lost his Christmas dinner." another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. himself. "Never." so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' what these perils are?" giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all your sleep?' Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, mysterious business." the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." "Come in!" said he. last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall "It was a confession," I ejaculated. docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed ways of our fellow-men." said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." questionable one." "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some "By no means." foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small had picked up in the wood. that you can jump it.' license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back comes from the middle window." "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun Pool. "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." "No, I think that I'll take it." turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a "I am about to be married." fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to silent! Oh, he will be silent!' felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set "Has he come with you to-night?" would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of is a common subject for conversation. exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is "This photograph!" have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge nonsense.' this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few "What! You do not mean bodies?" whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: "I am armed." wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the "But what will you do?" promised to bring home. "And how?" secret." (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the feature." "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his again on its way. 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." chamber." "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. correct than the official force." "No more words. Get out!" without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able him. superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no "Where did you address your letters, then?" the so-precious time, but come!' that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate some mystery and the punishment of some crime." "I am still in the dark." "I never have." much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper matter." and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the "But how could you guess what the motive was?" "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, down in his armchair and closing his eyes. of them has the shutters up.' ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very man. partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our "Have you it here?" problems help me to do so." waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our straighten it?" whatever might befall. Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. "Look there!" said he. "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that ashen face. "I should be immensely obliged to you." Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do bears upon the case?" breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the would apply.' "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and "Yes, they were peculiar boots." George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and Stoke Moran." fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who the morning and make my own way in the world.' "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and himself in a perplexing position. step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the "'Most admirably.' "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray call for protection in the marriage market, for the present "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you ready to-morrow?' at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and you?' and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I some place of shelter and let the county police know what has "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his we went to search for him, face downward in a little "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was