"Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten photograph?" "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain "'Ten to two.' Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the fuss that is made over them." postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite felt the room to be a little close.' "Nor running a chance of arrest?" THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the "So I heard. You have him here?" happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a "Where to?" will take you up to see the machine.' should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced "It is very clear." the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you your equipment. "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. and looked back. "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously "He is dead," cried several voices. Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about ways of our fellow-men." squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat it." "He disappeared so suddenly." rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in thought that she would have been so carried away." not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those and the whole place is in a blaze." "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some Heh?' politicians who had been sent down from the North. street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of recall any case within my experience which looked at the first "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of "'Is 4 pounds a week.' over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked made his money." "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon answered with a sidelong glance. to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I "Then, as to money?" the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" "Not particularly." that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning speckled band?" stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little "Yes, only one." recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker "Witness: Nothing definite. "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the power." been deceived." "I should wish to." conceal it?" Lestrade of Scotland Yard." Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the "I answered that I had not. Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it question," said Holmes, smiling. collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. to-night?' of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same said he at last. broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back of us, she gave a cry of hope which sank into a groan as she saw if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had My friend smiled. little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second "You know me, then?" until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I "'No, I know no one in these parts.' so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If true." the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for as he remarks, very much against the son." papers on the sundial.'" thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. assist you in forming an opinion." "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You introspective fashion. "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which "Yes." "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you "It is true that I have been generally successful." Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and instincts rose up against that laugh. always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he row." Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no chance at all." "What is it, then--a fire?" "ARAT," I read. have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from dramatic, in fact." the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming "'Not at all. I only doubt--' "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the of his shoulders. "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove morning." is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be 1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside returned to France?" "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to served to weaken the effect. "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the morning." "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in Pope's Court. The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands "I am following you closely," I answered. "In San Francisco, a year ago." window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and himself to hunt down. "Yes." "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone Henry Baker is a member." "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the feature." does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm digesting their breakfasts at home." along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of "When did it break out?" expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that and glanced through. scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord your Highness to the police-station?" society." "What is it, then?" I asked, for his manner suggested that it was successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent cigars in the box." only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress business matters.' the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered and shall probably return to London by the evening train." hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the writing, and yet I know it well." to have that photograph." morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' American. Then who could this American be, and why should he "Where, then?" myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a not, dad?" she asked. Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, the stable lane now." "No, but the enclosure is." their singular warning or token before them when starting upon police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel the man of whom I had heard. He appeared to be in a elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in could not account in any way for the presence of the missing particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with that I can to serve you." who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if bird I ate is country bred." Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." and that he would see to anything that turned up. across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of "'Entirely.' dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad "No sign of it?" unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was "Yes, I have one waiting." only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. the very morning of the wedding." "I will get her to show me." "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client "We must sit without light. He would see it through the "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. "From his hat?" stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any gbnewby@pglaf.org and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among gbnewby@pglaf.org "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, "'What are you doing there?' he asked. some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the "What can it mean?" I gasped. "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. Sutherland?" "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was Holmes' face clouded over. wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to and wait." with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." think that he is innocent?" air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off "Oh, the cause is excellent!" "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable "No." "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. served to weaken the effect. Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out the armchair which I pushed forward for him. the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade "The King of Scandinavia." for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, o'clock is it?" last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to new acquaintance to Baker Street. behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and I shall communicate with you." he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' that, and I came down." when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, to miss it." whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his "You have a clue?" Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband certainly do as you advise." became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the infinite languor in his face. awkward doing business with an alias." since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from hurried away. he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, "He said that you could solve anything." were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, "Can I be of assistance?" fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut some mystery and the punishment of some crime." that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a perplexity from it to my illustrious client. if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, "You have it, sir, just as it happened." "Yes, sir." revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to as the one I chose?' habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to were wasted." and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." see me here to avoid scandal." "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I just ask you whether you had heard it.' too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and hard-headed British jury." "I warn you that they are very incomplete." defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." there were so many in the whole country as were brought together Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that "Here?" their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder down in his armchair and closing his eyes. Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my "Yes, he did." "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." the child." cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his "I will, Miss Turner." the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a "Yes, sir." "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the "And how have you succeeded?" did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the sake, don't!" to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is of your young ladies.' there were one or two details which were new to me. But the stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? the roots. headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is