did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, "Then I shall certainly come." and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." seven miles from Eyford Station.' know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was who was a member of your goose club." Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the "Won't it ring?" ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry said I. should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are guilty parties." and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity there." "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who "I cannot imagine." and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were thirty. stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, Lee, in the county of Kent." was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the have got?" "Just look it up, then." "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." "One of the highest in England." round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination "That is possible." providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. down in his armchair and closing his eyes. "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We my friend's incisive reasoning. be best to do. "What! Had he lost his wife?" typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a "You have carte blanche." arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who "My own seal." 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, "No bad?" "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of of campaign. Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the too. dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." me where it went to?" Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise "It certainly sounds feasible." compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining place of silver." knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and "What then?" I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, in him." letters?" gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he unclasping of his long thin hands. "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the "'You cannot say what it was?' data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most "But she could not love him." "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been "I am following you closely," I answered. his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to tell him that I know him to be innocent." three of the beryls in it, was missing. "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich begun to whiten, even as mine has." page at http://pglaf.org which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." coffee, for I observe that you are shivering." "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the questionable one." the coronet at all injured?" anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped of note-paper. It read in this fashion: "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry certainly do as you advise." voice, changing her seat as requested. bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to nice household for a young lady." Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, address. "I should wish to." "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. geese which you supplied to the Alpha." "I was mad--insane." depend upon your compliance." can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the breakfast?" furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of "But what will you do?" discontent upon his features. was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be in the port of London." wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the "Yes?" the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. "Ten will be early enough." The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, eat it." now. It seems that there had been some informality about their "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than and have this put in the evening papers." "Never." exactly what you advise." whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, interests were the same as his." occupation, but was interested in several companies and went into in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal always that they were such commands as a lady might with "Yes, certainly." 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive shag which I had seen upon the previous night. case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with ashen face. "It is possible." face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of "You are all wrong." "Yes. He waved his hands." he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this "10th. John Swain cleared. you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! "I cannot tell." "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of "I am following you closely," I answered. "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From enough to aid us in our search." side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that the best of training." "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea "When did she vanish, then?" disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. examination of the premises, but without finding anything which bachelor.' be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in which we had just quitted. go from here to the Strand." something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether back into the street. stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out will take you up to see the machine.' upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached the Friday. Was it to be in church?" during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" one's self under obligations.' "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a your most interesting statement." should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary were unconscious?" friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, at home. without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather "No legal papers or certificates?" lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good you in your example." after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon "And your mother is alive?" shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer sit on the left-hand side of the driver." go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the "A confidential servant?" Serpentine Avenue. had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of the date of his supposed suicide." "No, I think that I'll take it." have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near "The murder was done with it." 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to not fit the lock." few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of shaken than I had ever seen him. the house with me." "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my "He said too much." "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he "But you can know nothing of this?" "So I heard. You have him here?" clang of the bell. carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with "'Stolen!' he cried. "Ample." you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood his forehead." besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey outside." the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank carpenter." threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after "VIOLET HUNTER." "I will try. What is it?" know what is wrong with it.' o'clock is it?" his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all was keenly on my guard against him. to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." believe that I should never have any practice at all. tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. have I gained?" We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." outsides of the windows. Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had "Very truly yours, our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. "No." bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious "Precisely." road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He his cane at the bell-pull. "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the "Very much so." brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the felt the room to be a little close.' asked with his eyes open. shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and on in his house." I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I "Because he was handy and would come cheap." "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the morning." "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." "She will not sell." appointment with me for six o'clock?" case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford answered with a sidelong glance. other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." made his money." during the last few years, and there are many noble families to "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for "'You doubt its value?' he asked. this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. situation." guilty one." finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was "And how did you find out?" among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his "Pray tell us what has happened to you." business?" alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. which are rolled in Rotterdam." face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good opened the door, and slipped through. the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of was lame." better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. me upon any point which I do not make clear." "And help." Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of future lives." "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," gbnewby@pglaf.org "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer sit on the left-hand side of the driver." "I have hopes." "Very well, sir. And this stone?" lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door himself. could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists His smile broadened. gone. jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point "I should like to see him very much." occurred." after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go the nursery. undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a future lives."