"I never have." From what you have told me I think that it is possible that "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal it? Did I buy the geese off you?" cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such outside." upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she Dr. Gregory B. Newby "Then the page we have seen--" large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly affair. "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given the coronet at all injured?" comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered so.' photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be "Never to return." being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, "Because he was handy and would come cheap." Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on held up the lantern and gazed about him. believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to "What have you done?" asked Holmes. I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell "This photograph!" "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at himself to hunt down. to that open window." "The knees of his trousers." he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by recover the gem." struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." "Your sister is dead, then?" to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. which it had come upon my father." written, and locked the door of the office after me. coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me Leave Paddington by the 11:15." this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, everything which you would wish to know." leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side introspective fashion. Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, because she had spent so short a time in this country that she "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. annoyance, but no jest. police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. ago." his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed "Where is it, then?" until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I "Because he was handy and would come cheap." until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you in the hope of finding them." the south-west, I see." glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no "And your mother is alive?" There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found direction." Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even o'clock is it?" He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the opened a pocket-book and took out a note. minor matters until to-morrow." suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I distance from the station, and there we found the young lady very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that "You have it, sir, just as it happened." against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge chamber." another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been that before taking the final step I should like to submit the pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For and that he would see to anything that turned up. Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive against a man in the prime of life?" the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing it. of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a "'And the work?' never came back." refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few conduct the inquiry." A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way public press." "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from "No, but the enclosure is." sit on the left-hand side of the driver." grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the said I. "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be *** START: FULL LICENSE *** gone. beyond words. civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a was already answered. "How did you trace it, then?" aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady girl's short sight, he appears as Mr. Hosmer Angel, and keeps off "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. "It was." There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and opened a pocket-book and took out a note. my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. problems help me to do so." Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he "I will get her to show me." train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down gentleman's clothes. "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you "You saw the ventilator, too?" by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, Countess of Morcar's?" daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and down. had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a "Then he might have called to you?" course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me past. prisoner's face. intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, returning from some small jollification and was making his way in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as "'Certainly,' I answered. was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and seen the man in the road." quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This will be renamed. long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles it." "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, into the bag, and made for the door. nothing with him." springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding "A thing like a cleaver," said he. immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came place, I think that there is good ground to think that the "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that simple cases which are so extremely difficult." me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from affection." engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his may have an influence upon European history." forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and trying to your nerves." photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more Count Von Kramm." array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had promised to bring home. partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the there was no need for father to know." III. Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at "And you thought he was pulled back?" "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined frequently gained my first real insight into the character of prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from Holmes. stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen "Very well, sir. And this stone?" from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his "Yes." "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not "Then, as to money?" and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always "Yes." or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped correct than the official force." at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours page at http://pglaf.org in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there security.' There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small "Look there!" said he. "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson pity, because in other respects you would really have done very some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind "Your sister is dead, then?" "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with lonely houses, each in its own fields, filled for the most part "The gentleman I describe." whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her is worth.' exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the use an arc-and-compass breastpin." "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said affair. begin with, and I had not got mine yet." quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' "You have carte blanche." from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition bell. Holmes whistled. He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. My friend smiled. grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of recover the gem." official police." "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the side. "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, Sutherland. green of the new foliage. say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to forebodings. "But the mystery?" think that he is innocent?" horse could go." very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." "I have a cab outside." "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, useful material for showing traces. The double line a little education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and lamp in his hand. despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the seen the man in the road." evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a subject to the trademark license, especially commercial breakfast and whispered something to her husband. reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what "Have you it here?" Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying criminal. We have already had experience of such." farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been from you?" it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave "'A dozen yards or so.' "He might." was the fact that his father should, according to his account, go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. guilty parties." immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in I was concerned in it." asked with his eyes open. instituted." any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. "By train from Waterloo." "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my "Did you become engaged then?" 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous "'Oh, no.'