to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. dear old homesteads?" distinguish the words: "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. DISSOLVED. expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and Have you good authority for what you say?" "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside colour had been driven from his face. remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. crowd. "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent good-night and bustled off upon her way. agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his remarked. me." We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to arms and began to sob in a high treble key. wanted for ourselves." of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too "'I have heard so.' could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round "How did he come?" a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes to change my dress. making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears You can understand that this register and diary may implicate "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with "And how?" retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some call for protection in the marriage market, for the present it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a bird of prey. "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, Holmes. the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich very morning of my second wedding." directors, with the result that you have seen." it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, union?" railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want This is what he says: side. that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to the best of training." "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon strode off upon his way. young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy "'Certainly not.' "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, It was close upon four before the door opened, and a reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the You want to know what became of those geese?" he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter discontent upon his features. breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. that before taking the final step I should like to submit the "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" "That is not always so easy." "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as "She told me to ask you." hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no companion imperturbably. clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check "I am sure." room. down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to voice, changing her seat as requested. "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry whereabouts. "Breckinridge is his name." railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the three of the beryls in it, was missing. back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I case before our client came into the room." even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father you." Leave Paddington by the 11:15." wife's character?" prisoner's face. I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me "VIOLET HUNTER." "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, train.' during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain "Yes, it would be as well." the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of Pool. propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding caressing and soothing his manner was--'and what has frightened "I guessed as much." half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of good for you to do.' family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to yourselves in at night?" electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, "Do you know him?" "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I "Six out and six back. Nothing simpler. You say yourself that the have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child the devil!" in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If "So it appears." stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper occurred." perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that "Pray be precise as to details," said he. but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings jewels which you have stolen?' now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was outside." expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on "'Certainly,' I answered. the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. to-night." he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front "They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship." however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I tail." glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." said he. distinguish the words: tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we you." himself to hunt down. matter over." to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check "Then what has happened to him?" "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly been able to understand it, in a very few words. breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and important." "This photograph!" gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads much for me. I'm not rich, but still I have a hundred a year in "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white "That is it on the dressing-table." were new raised from a basin. and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their caressing and soothing his manner was--'and what has frightened bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' least a fellow-countryman. refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their there!' where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' amused." machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. "'Then let me do so?' great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the suddenly upon us." leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as breakfast and whispered something to her husband. have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before tapping his fingers upon the table. "And now?" He raised his hand. confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be as he remarks, very much against the son." him to be an active member of the medical profession." "And I." "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want heavy and sharp instrument." his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, "Oh, yes, easily." servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the closely." "Deserted you?" "Ah, but I was recommended to you." more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my I held the little printed slip to the light. bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and my friend's incisive reasoning. that threaten you." "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" that errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One straightened it out again. his eyes and forehead. "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your goes." hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's depend upon my doing so.' have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave you found me to-night--and running through the front room she remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all gbnewby@pglaf.org "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a "Game for a morning drive?" the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is nonsense.' said he. Munro.' it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You without a word or a look. when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he "I have come for advice." his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as peculiar to him. "Yes. He waved his hands." I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward everything which you would wish to know." But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his maid will bring up your coffee." simple cases which are so extremely difficult." is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had when you have done it." "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully "But your client--" that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to fashion which was characteristic of him. "It is perhaps less note?" making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he "You have a clue?" How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with "Witness: Nothing definite. for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not call you and give you the chance." the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which "And your mother is alive?" Dr. Gregory B. Newby enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" "Then I can wait in the next room." "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, someone who had been in Australia." "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our "Why serious?" say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend and wait." going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. "What I expected to see." arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either matter." "What! Had he lost his wife?" direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of "It was." about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then do you make of it all?" "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham the address that was given us in the advertisement. he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the "Perhaps I have." if she died from some sudden fright." would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but "We must sit without light. He would see it through the asked. who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for bird I ate is country bred." companion quietly. stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it "It was a confession," I ejaculated. the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it which it had come upon my father." leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his fluttered off among the others. Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you subject to the trademark license, especially commercial "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." undoubtedly my uncle's." what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his "Yes, he did." "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by "I am to be neutral?" "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled followed. look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring tell me that you intended to go into harness." "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. rooms." going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps "You have a clue?" hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, since then to throw any light upon what became of him." He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but experiences." the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was outside. "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. information in his hands the value of which he did not himself before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his