of them has the shutters up.' might help us?" There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my delirious. not within a twentieth part of the market price." expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when know what is wrong with it.' fait accompli?" not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the shall use the carriage to-night." "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder Eyford." "I know where it is." "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a than was visible to me." "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are But Holmes shook his head gravely. earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' bled considerably." he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight your bag." "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a other means.' in the port of London." Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most noting anything else of interest. "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me "But his lameness?" were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered "You have but to name it." "Yes." "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out towards the blaze. for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious "Was there a secret marriage?" them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the relief. "But it has twice been burgled." lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, swore that no one else had been in the front room during the British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the man. her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to "Thank you. Pray proceed." knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to "How long did she speak to this Alice?" Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a likely to be some crony of the landlady's." his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is prisoner's face. "It is half-past ten now." conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her sneer upon his pale face. "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. "And is that all?" never will be, entirely cleared up. daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. himself to hunt down. Literary Archive Foundation stalked out of the room. of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to point our research must commence, and we will begin it by "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the "Yes." do you make of it all?" autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small this poor creature." chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into appeal." "But your client--" which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the without a word or a look. knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. and the colonel ushered me in. 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of stalked out of the room. my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are third from London." handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my strength of mind to control. this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he over with notes and figures. huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant been anything against him. He had for years been known as a "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' exactly what you advise." Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have "Here?" shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a maid will bring up your coffee." that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the back to my heart. matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared As I dressed I glanced at my watch. It was no wonder that no one fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the ago." once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went "Certainly, madam." facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." Gutenberg-tm License. in him." sneer upon his pale face. rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he III. landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden "Well, some hundreds of times." the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A things are very often connected not with the larger but with the Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is "Yes, I have one waiting." that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very at a side door. therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. shall use the carriage to-night." the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to "I cannot think." "It is true that I have been generally successful." life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just photograph a cabinet?" strong reason behind." eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I for and were ordered to this address. woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be the nursery. but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." recall any case within my experience which looked at the first The events in question occurred in the early days of my and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. "I beg pardon." Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." because she had spent so short a time in this country that she "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord "In which, sir?" very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were little adventures." "And how did you find out?" lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the have had none more fantastic than this." was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a in. "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going future lives." through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, case-book, which he consulted. sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with "Not social, then?" hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a tapping his fingers upon the table. "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell to talk it over. "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at "'Why that?' I asks. be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's visitors." is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if awkward doing business with an alias." he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves "Not social, then?" who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into about here speaks of his kindness to him." "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is London for the present?" them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that letters?" "Did your wife hear all this?" a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must "Yes." an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to "I am armed." light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. "I have sworn it by the most solemn oaths which a man can take." doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. States. trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what bonnet, and went out." we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector have been better. It is all right." King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and "What can it mean?" I gasped. fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes would then never go into court at all." disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the "A call for help, you thought?" some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, "But how could you guess what the motive was?" "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the Again Holmes raved in the air. "I came to find a friend." I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his new duties?' secret." Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate tell them apart.' charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been retorted upon me, and I on you." forecastle of an emigrant ship. family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us Sutherland?" a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat matter." You want to know what became of those geese?" conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. bird I ate is country bred." to-night." one or two very singular points about this room. For example, "I was afraid that you were engaged." himself. days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving security.' interests were the same as his." nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. returned, feeling very much easier. A horrible doubt came into my what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to recall any case within my experience which looked at the first "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the compunction about shooting them down." I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said "'Certainly,' I answered. the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell geese which you supplied to the Alpha." same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the presented which may be striking and bizarre without being Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished companion. towards the blaze. horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, "Witness: It was. lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under that there was nothing in it, after all." them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or closely." band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" once more to my work. Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been to surprise her." photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my "No, I had a dozen." difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that without a word or a look. in a very precise fashion." to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time awkward doing business with an alias." him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. absorbing." Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of "'You doubt its value?' he asked. delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his "'Yes.' the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event foresight and the moral retrogression?" "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of "Do you know him?" leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they stood on the top of it. without a word or a look. together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a me upon any point which I do not make clear." something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help once more for Briony Lodge. Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own