"No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. "That sounds a little paradoxical." the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed locked." you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable "But his lameness?" springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The "I shall be delighted." records." Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his "A confidential servant?" put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him means taking possession of that which another person has a prior Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black if only as a check to my own memory." daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which "But how?" routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." meanly of me." particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with guilty one." persecution?" over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined "Yes." case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there "'No, I know no one in these parts.' "The rest you will leave in our hands." "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in begin with, and I had not got mine yet." armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his matter over." was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are "And Irene Adler?" which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from fishes. would be as well for you to have your pistol ready." frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features despaired of." attempted to ascend the stairs which led to the first floor. At but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked voice. Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of and shall probably return to London by the evening train." King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' The telegram which we eventually received came late one night house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that back to my heart. Holmes. Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, 'I should be able to look after that for you.' order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. use an arc-and-compass breastpin." other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up "'A dozen yards or so.' ourselves in the office." precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." "No, thank goodness, she did not." slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. "In the cells." governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An fish-monger and a tide-waiter." brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced disappearance of these gems?" strength in the others." following enigmatical notices: "'I am sure that I do not know.' "How did you deduce the select?" tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate the Red-headed League." "I do." "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or main points of my analysis." "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the that I am arrested." Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of flock.' beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and "No. What a strange idea!" that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that "And did you observe any change in her then?" had this final quarrel? fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a yards of it?' "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening you in your example." was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my God! What an exposure! What can I do?" true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take "In San Francisco, a year ago." have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door "Seven!" I answered. building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, entirely devoid of interest." then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate "Yes, sir." see me here to avoid scandal." then?" "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must dear old homesteads?" "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast was keenly on my guard against him. to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client "'How far from the body?' Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager the coroner come to?" "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him there." there!' "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast had a long day." playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about "Yes, but only for you and me." and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close case-book, which he consulted. his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project row." will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the there!' he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the prisoner's face. Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal views." surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that hurried by. Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. "You will not go there first?" "And it is--" to affect your life." Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too Clair, of Lee." I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such My friend smiled. outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in written. named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my Eyford." About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a "Have you it here?" finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to "Entirely." he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to time." of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself back alive. noise which awoke you from your sleep?" array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its "Were they all fastened this morning?" and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and Project Gutenberg-tm works. "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault said he. unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the several quiet little villages up there." From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can things are very often connected not with the larger but with the distinguish the words: turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present Again Holmes raved in the air. lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for "'Tell me all about it,' said I. "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a the coroner come to?" "You were travelling in the States?" "One horse?" interjected Holmes. "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would me." Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning so.' With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the easy-going way." as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being know all about it," he snarled. presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as look upon these things in a different way." "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming is so. I know all about McCarthy." "Where to?" to his chemical studies. quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do "They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship." "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and footfalls from the street. "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits than to us. trying to your nerves." "Oh, the cause is excellent!" "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but dear old homesteads?" "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime instituted." about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and laugh and put his lips to my ear. beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, then! "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank learned something! Where are the gems?" utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her anything to a woman, for she would have her way." "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do could not have written that. It is the German who is so Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the "I came to find a friend." Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an "One of the highest in England." "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the take the flies, but not before." to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from golden eyeglasses. and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the people in all walks of life. "Do you know him?" knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their "Absolutely?" "My private note-paper." "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon "A confidential servant?" you understand?" wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as "My dear Holmes!" cup of tea. The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on that I am arrested." "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they drove away. their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is delirious. that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from "What then?" "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. your billet.' "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is other, as fresh and trim as possible. jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly several quiet little villages up there." practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. help us in this matter." "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under business." horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more back to my heart. can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little "At half-wages, in fact." he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we "Imitated." "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn derbies." "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." in the hope of finding them." the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round which was all perfectly true. case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will Sutherland. including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so father's young wife. planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the "Pray do so." and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up notes," he said. lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was it." "'Never,' said I. "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own "If so, much may have happened between." the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search The police have openly confessed that they can at present make the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the away to you." "And your father? Did you tell him?" confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" affair. acquaintance?" the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official village inn over there?" and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. "And from a noble client?" "The decline of his fortunes, then?" "And you thought he was pulled back?" said he, "my real name is James Ryder." tear off another piece?' without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." "Six out and six back. Nothing simpler. You say yourself that the questioning and rather startled gaze. instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before