opened a pocket-book and took out a note. uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the the window, rose as we entered. distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is other means.' shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's The King stared at him in amazement. stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever never will be, entirely cleared up. "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My "I say it is." about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. "And you can do nothing until then?" remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black "Yes, certainly." air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face "I have sworn it by the most solemn oaths which a man can take." "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the "'Where could I find him?' the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet will take you up to see the machine.' fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause "My dear Holmes!" "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may "You horrify me." probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something not within a twentieth part of the market price." room had already been engaged for us. "And what did you learn from him?" sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with "How are you getting on?" lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. throat." confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from "Quite so." "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, is," said he presently: a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." "Pray do so." shaken than I had ever seen him. "Six out and six back. Nothing simpler. You say yourself that the next day. the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and enter into my head. "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more for and were ordered to this address. and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's and all of them with the keenest interest. I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his way: the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most showing my impatience. wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I good-night and bustled off upon her way. almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his "And from a noble client?" "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in place, I think that there is good ground to think that the "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No pound a week." opened the door, and slipped through. I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so "Ah!" twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds peculiar to him. tail." little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have you came in." on re-entering her father's house?" Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was "What shall I do?" anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works I nodded again. Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a "Yes, only one." and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just "Which are?" true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." the tragedy. hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. seven miles from Eyford Station.' "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as "What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and "Was she in good spirits?" of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. crowd. "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the "Entirely." delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you chance at all." character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and "It missed him, then?" which we had just quitted. "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." exactly what you advise." quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could from the brougham. seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the unkempt, staring out at me. married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which minor matters until to-morrow." corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each looking up at the numbers of the houses." matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of "How did you trace it, then?" nothing with him." marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." go back?" The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, "And now?" I asked. "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out him a price for the stones he held--1000 pounds apiece. That he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that think that any burglar could have done. "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two "It was an hour's good drive." pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to "To ruin me." creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the bell. Holmes whistled. usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life money should be paid at once.' "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to manager. woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. cheerful." allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross frequently gained my first real insight into the character of that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and thin, with a long, sharp nose?" myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" relation between them, and what the object of his repeated one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two away in different directions, and I went off to make my own there." station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my "But how will you look?" "Dark enough and sinister enough." "'As governess?' Leave Paddington by the 11:15." my secret was safe in his possession. "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, hour?' harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the "Look there!" said he. "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with "And that is--" what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in to you." "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She intimate personal affairs in this public manner." either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this "Indeed! Whose, then?" "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the carriage. It was a chestnut." bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most "Yes, sir." have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire "It was." dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was Street. happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington over here." "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. "What is it, then?" I asked, for his manner suggested that it was chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could hopeless attempt at recovering them." bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather detained." evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they shoulder; "he's all right." before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." straightened it out again. me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling "It is half-past ten now." authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we His smile broadened. with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in anything to do with the matter?" and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather shall not find me ungrateful." there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had green of the new foliage. clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather that I may have something better before very many minutes are it means?" "Pray do so." to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere "'Quite sure, dad.' before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the "No." of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by lamp in his hand. "Not him." morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits. shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and "I do." "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." Young McCarthy must be got off, however." he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook "'You doubt its value?' he asked. of receipt of the work. keep the flames under. arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he evidence," I remarked. seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, "Proceed, then." relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face the room while you explain this matter?" hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own and a shock of very red hair. of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a is," said he presently: ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were closely." the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point outside. "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help formed some opinion?" and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how very morning of my second wedding." "We must have a cab." drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight "Then, how do you know?" yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while "I am still in the dark." marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at enough to aid us in our search." Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to you found me to-night--and running through the front room she "What! You do not mean bodies?" visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his "By all means." quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted "Yes." inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should of fine shops and stately business premises that they really nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I relief. "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, helping a boy to put up the shutters. into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of