broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of fattened it expressly for you.' meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed quite distinctive." He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them "Ten will be early enough." happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your fashion which was peculiar to him. noise which awoke you from your sleep?" depend upon your compliance." geese which you supplied to the Alpha." "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one I leave." arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still highroad, where all traces were lost. lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, "'Then let me do so?' the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I "I assure you that I am in your hands." ashen face. explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of formed some opinion?" "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father to go into your room and bar your shutters?" when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for gone before you can get him to hospital." patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. feature." "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could in this note: a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be unkempt, staring out at me. customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed "It may not come to that," said Holmes. "Do you go out much in society?" Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." in his power. "Of Friday, June 19th." surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ "One?" I held the little printed slip to the light. time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon not personally threatened." on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of to a light-house. bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out "It may not come to that," said Holmes. voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of me. You must get home instantly and act." mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." the coronet in his hands?" Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the entirely lost his self-respect." security.' the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the present." me. You must get home instantly and act." ways including including checks, online payments and credit card news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink invisible to me," I remarked. "A client, then?" these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly cup of tea. chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the back into the street. Countess of Morcar's?" Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The "And the murderer?" "But of what society?" Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes "'Yes.' dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to means taking possession of that which another person has a prior other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, abroad, and he has been in failing health for some time. This promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. call you and give you the chance." Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." reach." presented more singular features than that which was associated "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line "You have it, sir, just as it happened." wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in "I do." cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but cigar and let me expound." investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face question. client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the morning." "Game for a morning drive?" with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." stepfather?" "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this "It must be recovered." "Was your sister dressed?" to tackle the facts." diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole conduct the inquiry." "BALLARAT." first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. me, and I could not think that his explanation of the the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly married her." will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he Lestrade of Scotland Yard." the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the lectures into a series of tales." the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as suspect him." "None." his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, You want to know what became of those geese?" might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few DISSOLVED. day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a "9th. McCauley cleared. quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. "That is unusual in a young girl." was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf the ceiling. Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange when your master had gone out." she slowly sank and died without having recovered her just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, girl said." submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of "But I have heard all that you have heard." "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and "Why did you beat the pavement?" soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of "But his lameness?" Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one this man was intellectual?" back into the street. and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from figure." surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was "It certainly sounds feasible." "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." society." guilty one." have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may room?" that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down existence." notes," he said. was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do seen the man in the road." near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" existence." answer." it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our photograph a cabinet?" entirely lost his self-respect." my friend's incisive reasoning. "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty the coroner come to?" suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in bill, which interests me deeply." "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I a good hundred miles off by now." believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being me where it went to?" upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then case before our client came into the room." cup of tea. the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining The police have openly confessed that they can at present make "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill prepare for the new role I have to play." ways of our fellow-men." your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have "No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and forehead. Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his was lame." family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been fuss that is made over them." afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. retorted upon me, and I on you." and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and "Yes." that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during formed some opinion?" away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding even so self-evident a thing as that." aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making into the bag, and made for the door. "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" The summons was a brief and urgent one. 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, then! this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to strength of mind to control. "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the said he. "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the "You forget that I know nothing about it." "What can you not understand?" "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now furiously. you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said writers could invent nothing more crude." subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls lonely houses, each in its own fields, filled for the most part hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all results." was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable his face which made him a very different person to the round, the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be you." long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they he. "I came to find a friend." the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, 809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which "The rest you will leave in our hands." of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought you, my dear young lady?' Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to sit on the left-hand side of the driver." For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what may never be exposed to such a temptation." tail." eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the "How can you tell that?" his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin that before taking the final step I should like to submit the house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper late!' "But how could you guess what the motive was?" and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of floor. and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I because she had spent so short a time in this country that she "Yes." "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, "He might." well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had "But how will you look?" what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the it." "Have you her photograph?" police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in Heh?' which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." skylight. little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation "Nothing?" be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good what do you think they found in the pockets?" "Pray do so." one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which made his money." "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor green of the new foliage. Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler front of me. Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure