that before taking the final step I should like to submit the girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first the little opening for the ventilator is." Where does the thing come from?' severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came wife's character?" were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in Where does the thing come from?' closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully shoulder; "he's all right." and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I written. understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great distinguish the words: heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which golden eyeglasses. James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." as the one I chose?' find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my ever seen that her temper was just a little sharp. The incident lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of spark where all is dark to me." "And how did you verify them?" his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the congratulate you again." for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first "It was a confession," I ejaculated. fire. You quite follow me?" "I answered that I had not. always that they were such commands as a lady might with elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out because she had spent so short a time in this country that she address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the "What! a murderous attack?" would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel "Do you receive much company?" he asked. "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it you want, then?' the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon fasten all the windows?" "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a started for the Temple to see my husband. the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, in him." copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in "We were both in the photograph." companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the following enigmatical notices: skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, "I am still in the dark." it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before man. garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one "And I say east," said my patient. promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in during the last few years, and there are many noble families to interests were the same as his." "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, be sorry for having acted so harshly." thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. furiously. wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, "And what did you see?" contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight "That also I could fathom." be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call south, for the country is more deserted there." "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, "Look there!" said he. affection." England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, "'And what salary do you ask?' bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads "No." "Do you know him?" opened a pocket-book and took out a note. watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the it with his own hands." in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their be best to do. was lame." remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. this unhappy family?" in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, way in." transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton "Come in!" said he. "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you "Yes?" "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has weapon." shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the 'I should be able to look after that for you.' and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would train from Paddington which would bring you there at about Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. with you alone." the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, about here speaks of his kindness to him." "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for suddenly upon us." their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a "Yes, I have one waiting." "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were bedroom door." "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it point in the dark hollow of his hand. across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to the stable lane now." I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low "In San Francisco, a year ago." must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE heavily into it. should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in excitement. the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the have not had my rubber." "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds it right.' evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, "Was your sister dressed?" north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently of the way of danger. me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover one of the states of the Union." standing smiling on the door-step. doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than "Her father is very rich?" "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered "Precisely so. But how--" child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I the stable lane now." "It is no ordinary one." of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I read it out to me." "By all means." their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us carpenter." Chief Executive and Director shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, "I think that it is very probable." murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that in a very precise fashion." "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never "What have you done?" asked Holmes. without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern galvanised. very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I bed dies. Does not that strike you?" been lifted and conveyed somewhere." down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an your Highness to the police-station?" existence." words came to my lips. no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was "Yes, it was twisted." "'There is a drive, then?' favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining "Seven!" I answered. conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you straighten it?" stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and "'You doubt its value?' he asked. in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have this as likely?" leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 "Not in the least." "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see the Assizes." "Yes, at the mines." met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water better in every way that they should make their position a little in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked feature." is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than so far?" between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now photograph a cabinet?" overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of the stable lane now." himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he locked. on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully present." And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. But Holmes shook his head gravely. year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as "How on earth--" before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared "And how?" walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. to that open window." "My dear Holmes!" "How did he come?" the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the don't comply with the conditions if you budge from the office The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. "Yes?" moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door "But of what society?" and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who easy-going way." "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray had died away into the silence from which it rose. been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was me where it went to?" outside." undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter desk. yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, lost nothing by them." "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the little trying to do so much typewriting?" Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to not within a twentieth part of the market price." your sleep?' "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he "What then?" "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he impression behind it as though a window had gently closed would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger cheerful." bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm were wasted." "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his a room. "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must chemical work which was so dear to him. were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular examination of the premises, but without finding anything which "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that