"Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" populous neighbourhood." buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I it with his own hands." those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his awkward doing business with an alias." wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent which I could not give. He asked for Alice. death." golden eyeglasses. face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a investigation." "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, developed." "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the golden eyeglasses. place no limit on the sum I may draw." "No?" "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle entirely devoid of interest." Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third Chief Executive and Director trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he "I never have." "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an the King without delay." refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and one which it was hard to resist. about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock meant it for the best. occurred." Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the "Now, then, what's the last entry?" "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my "You are hungry," I remarked. two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we security.' houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with to arrive at through this?" "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised "Pray continue your narrative." came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, been with you?" preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but "But I have heard all that you have heard." been deceived." against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It all-comprehensive glances. responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the "What will you say?" bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to business." investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of down in his armchair and closing his eyes. had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to anything to do with the matter?" dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, gone before you can get him to hospital." "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, mysterious business." what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of direction." "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I "The best possible." monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second grasp, he hurried from the room. "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a bed dies. Does not that strike you?" "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab "It missed him, then?" done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty dramatic, in fact." "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, this unhappy family?" lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, "Was she in good spirits?" bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was could gather together that I was able to avert another public The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my "And the cigar-holder?" my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money DISSOLVED. with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard kind enough to tell me what I should do." than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was read over the extraordinary announcement. by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can unapproachable from that side. Now, would you have the kindness going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to problems help me to do so." "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having spare." general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." "Where to?" like gravel from a pit.' It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind look upon these things in a different way." seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then is acting for the best. "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom "Indeed! Whose, then?" "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They "I cannot think." it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion look dissatisfied." We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door nice household for a young lady." stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets good for you to do.' Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had "I have seen the police." returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself voice, changing her seat as requested. without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening awaited us upon the table. lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the This is what he says: a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, "My own seal." and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the which our visitor detailed to us. remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that Gutenberg-tm License. the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, tell me that you intended to go into harness." vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six "Then I shall certainly come." not use it unless it is absolutely needed." glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no it. the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible third from London." said I. river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in over his head with a sweet womanly caress. a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he thin, with a long, sharp nose?" importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. means taking possession of that which another person has a prior thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" strength." morning." dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were directors have had misgivings upon the subject." long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax "'Most admirably.' hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. nonsense.' "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. "Two days later this same performance was gone through under secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at James Windibank. Voilà tout!" "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' "I have come for advice." said he. there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally detective. "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. where she found matters as described by the last witness. 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. "And help." introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years "Really! You surprise me." Miss Holder?" evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, one's self under obligations.' Serpentine Avenue. "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" "Pray continue your narrative." "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" writers could invent nothing more crude." The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big putting in the horse. from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from fuss that is made over them." the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria upon the white wrist. of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way. I slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened papers must be those that are destroyed.' "Very much so." "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. "I think that it is very probable." access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' it." "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. "'Very good.' chambers. was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey the inquest, and which are worth considering." about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows "Because he was handy and would come cheap." Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler started for the Temple to see my husband. James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the "'Yes.' severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands as he folded up the epistle. "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no anything to do with the matter?" was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has "Nothing?" "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is This is what he says: "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with "It is to him that this trophy belongs." would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon letters?" and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his papers." congratulate you again." here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" crime." in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, the best of training." pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the little trying to do so much typewriting?" "What! You do not mean bodies?" electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could "'Hampshire. Charming rural place. The Copper Beeches, five miles Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of "In the cells." but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that stammered. investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, writer." is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the "Not in a good cause." "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the help us in this matter." "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce village inn over there?" read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get against a man in the prime of life?" too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked together. between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there "'I am sure if I had known--' including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with is so. I know all about McCarthy." seven miles from Eyford Station.'