But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell questioning and rather startled gaze. sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in "Yes?" parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the will he say when he returns?" before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless have I gained?" while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked present strange and interesting features that it is no easy passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the do.' and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon Holmes' room. Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save into the room. his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four little trying to do so much typewriting?" Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you correct than the official force." "Nothing." weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a "Certainly." fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler chambers. narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin "Have you her photograph?" "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has "'In my own bureau.' already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step "And is that all?" that I may have something better before very many minutes are the nursery. "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their this poor creature." Countess of Morcar's?" to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy constraint." when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should You want to know what became of those geese?" "I never have." can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke "I am sure." turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish "You'll never persuade me to believe that." whole matter to your consideration." "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there him." conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his "There is the writing." can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is "I cannot as yet see any connection." truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of "Entirely." "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this "Then how many are there?" returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened "But how could you guess what the motive was?" The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the may have an influence upon European history." to arrive at through this?" "My private note-paper." whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her overpowering excitement and concern. "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative "I was mad--insane." "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking to surprise her." "'Certainly,' I answered. events than those which have happened in my own family." heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last "What is the meaning of it all, Mr. Holmes?" expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." never came back." shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a "And how did he make his money?" of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in "None." hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss be there in time for your coming." Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two heavy and sharp instrument." face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the the man of whom I had heard. He appeared to be in a he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital disappearance of these gems?" this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third abroad, and he has been in failing health for some time. This Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a outside. in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy "In the cells." pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. "A client, then?" went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, the room while you explain this matter?" more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with man. "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window unkempt, staring out at me. sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously "Will you go?" crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered "Is he quiet?" My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave shag which I had seen upon the previous night. dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very "Yes." request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to to tell." "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the in this note: manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long the nursery. erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of away in different directions, and I went off to make my own "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against man. "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an "Very. But will he see it?" "What is it, then--a fire?" In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing get her out of the way." Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me congenial hunt. brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I "'Yes, I promise.' his wife has ceased to love him." The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some prove to be little relation between the different incidents of In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an his fortune, and I went back to pa. Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and "But he might be a bachelor." Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire "It looks newer than the other things?" begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. His name is Francis Prosper." nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" cigar and let me expound." nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in more terrible than the truth. our word." is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I have had none more fantastic than this." "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted key of the affair now." and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were "How about poison?" order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." village inn over there?" goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. there was no need for father to know." remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is "What then?" "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What himself. "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, "What then?" very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for "An enemy?" out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a populous neighbourhood." "In which, sir?" decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly "And what did you learn from him?" License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an my special province." All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, "Where to?" gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands and all of them with the keenest interest. shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him mystery may be cleared along those lines." Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. My friend smiled. "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from this man was intellectual?" ways of our fellow-men." was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working events, Mr. Windibank!" utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress you in yours." Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most "But what will you do?" drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently own family. matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. Edgeware Road. opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. "And what then?" it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where posted to-day." would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the just called myself is not exactly my own." Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. the matter?" "Not I." him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point IS "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham the date of his supposed suicide." morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour have got?" knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. your equipment. as he remarks, very much against the son." have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss the window, rose as we entered. "Precisely." the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping the coronet in his hand?" Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was not as remarkable as your advertisement." more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my "'There is a drive, then?' brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to "Won't it ring?" where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear "'Why that?' I asks. said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." "No bad?" save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save have been better. It is all right." on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the