footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. hour." at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to "And your mother is alive?" I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was way in." "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly "No." name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform may never be exposed to such a temptation." "And your father? Did you tell him?" coffee, for I observe that you are shivering." "'It is locked up,' I answered. my friend's incisive reasoning. For additional contact information: voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. in my life." with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! and glanced through. yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar money should be paid at once.' because she had spent so short a time in this country that she increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." to-night?' instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is I held the little printed slip to the light. had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had when your master had gone out." "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the back into the street. "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at conclusions. tied." held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. that you wished to speak to me?' get her out of the way." of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. question you as to those details which seem to me to be most snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, fasten all the windows?" Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events large a sum as a hundred a year, with what you earn into the and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A photograph?" and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., The telegram which we eventually received came late one night located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from gone. Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that "'What are you doing there?' he asked. suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was call for protection in the marriage market, for the present array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations get the tickets." Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like breakfast and whispered something to her husband. introspective fashion. might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum "But not more so than I to find you." "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and "I have a cab outside." is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, to-morrow." doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back "Yes, he did." web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." "That is possible." "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might gone before you can get him to hospital." more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place been." in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped really the only notable feature about the thing." thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote prisoner's face. "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. said he. central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough "I will do it." George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this "But how?" stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and and shall probably return to London by the evening train." too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness *** START: FULL LICENSE *** behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella emerged. turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried "It may not come to that," said Holmes. vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be me, and I could not think that his explanation of the "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is test if we have an answer to our advertisement." a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered "One horse?" interjected Holmes. unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold "But how?" attention." little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she as though some dreadful hand were behind me clutching at the "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your distinguish the words: of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly "But we can't all be." groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It of it with the greatest attention. "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices "What of the rat, then?" remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a Again Holmes raved in the air. "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call "They are typewritten," I remarked. room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" bed dies. Does not that strike you?" process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I events than those which have happened in my own family." your co-operation." for its centre. rooms." Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing said he at last. of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, "No, I had a dozen." with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste "Dark enough and sinister enough." smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does good for you to do.' have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. if she died from some sudden fright." "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than strength in the others." look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. other, as fresh and trim as possible. "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view "What do you mean?" desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his weigh very heavily upon my conscience." "I was certainly surprised to find you there." I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go light and attacked it." I nodded again. "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the "Ample." word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a "In San Francisco, a year ago." the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more said he. "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The The events in question occurred in the early days of my sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never Project Gutenberg-tm works. see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter "No?" as noiselessly as she had come. and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very Street. morning." for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking strength of mind to control. companion. "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at as the one I chose?' Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our to-night?' "Not in a good cause." lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the dear old homesteads?" "To an English lawyer named Norton." the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs was shining brightly. mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as few hundred pounds.' "I answered that I had not. of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding I nodded again. black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." meant it for the best. my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend "What?" wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. tell me that you intended to go into harness." we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat which we had just quitted. and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself you give your casting vote to?" and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was "Just look it up, then." "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it The telegram which we eventually received came late one night we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your "Here?" named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an "But it has twice been burgled." receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I carpenter." you came in." upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was "No good news?" "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you "'I have heard so.' As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." straightened it out again. because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from begin with, and I had not got mine yet." again." "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled lids now and glanced across at his visitor. four million human beings all jostling each other within the appeared upon the scene." gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons following enigmatical notices: pictures, libraries, or plate. thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can eavesdroppers?' "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very in a friendly supper." and your relations to her." to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his his cane at the bell-pull. bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On "What!" he roared. "Your presence might be invaluable." possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered the driver. bedroom door." in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a sooner or later she must fall a victim. a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend have not had my rubber." frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' the room while you explain this matter?" the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing crime. "'And the work?' comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly guilty one." another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first for the market.' ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and "'Certainly not. But why?' red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." to surprise her." "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: have been better. It is all right." In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this your troubles."