that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and "Did you become engaged then?" once more to my work. rooms." basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner of note-paper. It read in this fashion: Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She laugh and put his lips to my ear. On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all The police have openly confessed that they can at present make the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I "But of what society?" head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger "What is it?" true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this place, I think that there is good ground to think that the "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to As I dressed I glanced at my watch. It was no wonder that no one course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed "Oh, the cause is excellent!" "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy client, rising. though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. long narrative. "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. "So I heard. You have him here?" about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns back into the street. flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in shaken than I had ever seen him. a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the ill-usage at the hands of fortune. "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the what I may call a really hard day's work." "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are young Openshaw's." "The gentleman I describe." Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. question. secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord there has been an enclosure here!" "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There The summons was a brief and urgent one. she has been waylaid. There has been no result." old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me him. ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are trying to your nerves." permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. "Nearly eleven." some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I http://gutenberg.net/license). year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. friends, not even his own brother. "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the opportunities to fix the problem. I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a business at Coburg Square is serious." strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back rat could hardly pass through." of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see "Yes." reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' "You have a clue?" pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to annoyance, but no jest. more solid." prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in "'Is purely nominal.' "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at some mystery and the punishment of some crime." Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he comes from the middle window." collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel "But how did you gain them?" "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after "'What do you call purely nominal?' He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' enter into my head. together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" heavy and sharp instrument." "No legal papers or certificates?" foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what "Well?" flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this "How many? I don't know." "That is it on the dressing-table." Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The fact, we may call it conclusive." tension within him. deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time have had none more fantastic than this." overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman "'Most admirably.' research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do whether it answered to the description of any of their It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then attention." "Witness: Nothing definite. the so-precious time, but come!' would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the hand, madam?" his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the What do you deduce from it?" his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding been shamefully used." face and glided from the room. his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the presented more singular features than that which was associated Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a peculiar to him. St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now your room." what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick there." photograph?" years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after what do you think they found in the pockets?" drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, "It is his hat." "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read recall any case within my experience which looked at the first know that the truth is known." betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." place of silver." 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, Sholtos." such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny Chief Executive and Director "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. photograph?" "'Is 4 pounds a week.' safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the said he. "And your father? Did you tell him?" just called myself is not exactly my own." without success. At last the little money which I had saved began "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view anything to a woman, for she would have her way." I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, "'Tell me all about it,' said I. bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it "I am about to be married." "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' nothing with him." conduct the inquiry." in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. the general public were present, then?" would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little next day. it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." quickly through a disagreeable task. shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough "But she could not love him." "'There is a drive, then?' "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, "No." as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to carriage. It was a chestnut." her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and call for it in person on Monday morning.' would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and had picked up in the wood. is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates the dangers which encompass me." brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the interests were the same as his." wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, here." lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his exactly what you advise." think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE "Game for a morning drive?" have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come meanly of me." the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running was used.' view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? think that any burglar could have done. your sleep?' "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so "Nor running a chance of arrest?" have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through vanished into the darkness. Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the "Then I do not see the point." trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited "'And what salary do you ask?' PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. "What! You do not mean bodies?" but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. business in the City. She little knew what. doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end." lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' next day. threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after "9th. McCauley cleared. "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? himself. zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a "She walked into the breakfast-room." "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our away to you." to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no "None." we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come forbidden door. had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. or other trace. But how on earth--" it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I generous with you in money matters.' inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. been anything against him. He had for years been known as a already been minutely examined." to take care of herself." "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his "Yes, from Horsham." everything which you would wish to know." and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains main points of my analysis." "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis side. her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a this as likely?" return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making with you alone." sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir lamp in his hand. before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, envelope. "'Yes, I promise.' "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something "Then you may entirely rely on me." grasp, he hurried from the room. a room. light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to begun to whiten, even as mine has." "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap colonel looking down at me. small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. "Not him." "What, then?" endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream unprecedented a position." He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery girl said." Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. "But of what society?" We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the such person." was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' showing my impatience. little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and "What office?" "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the "The vanishing of the lady." on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been to surprise her." observed. "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he breakfast and whispered something to her husband. see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared thin, with a long, sharp nose?" you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had records." 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no asked. "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts signal between you and your father? "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just colour had been driven from his face. a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from vault. swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could 1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the "Yes." logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but