are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest the Friday. Was it to be in church?" suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich Holmes' face clouded over. and inquire as to the address." I nodded again. furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a come either from the window or the door. My attention was to-night." I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was had a long day." I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was south, for the country is more deserted there." bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor "By no means." tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an interested in these little problems, and since you are good had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in the King without delay." "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is place, I think that there is good ground to think that the between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to "But who is he?" about here speaks of his kindness to him." breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was to have been novel and of interest." I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your any little problem which you may submit to me." refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and me." "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's "It was a confession," I ejaculated. only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his you." "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall ways including including checks, online payments and credit card which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each fish-monger and a tide-waiter." thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside "You did not overhear what they said?" to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. hard-headed British jury." "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence "My dear Holmes!" a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the "And now?" I asked. "My stepfather's business papers." I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself "9th. McCauley cleared. he. civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife purpose of examination. the inner apartment." natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his chambers. started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible hurried away. any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once drawing your inferences." felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set nothing with him." of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." way in." "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white "9th. McCauley cleared. "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the awaited us upon the table. "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' "You horrify me!" "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair the corner. "I have had nothing else to do." which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had your only hope of safety." maiden herself was most instructive." to-night's adventure." that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey undoubtedly my uncle's." that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable "Come in!" said Holmes. many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we upon the sideboard." some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. "It is very kind of you." dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they is acting for the best. outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." "Ha! you find it so?" fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my which our visitor detailed to us. colonel looking down at me. typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save that I may have something better before very many minutes are "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. closely." or other trace. But how on earth--" jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that existence." the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon things are very often connected not with the larger but with the that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful notes," he said. when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, weigh very heavily upon my conscience." enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my "But how could you guess what the motive was?" graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of The events in question occurred in the early days of my and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face said he. drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the What do you deduce from it?" first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, how narrow had been my escape. exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave floor. look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door enter Dr. Roylott's room." that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the shall not find me ungrateful." bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an plantation.' "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. papers on the sundial.'" he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest Holmes' room. "Then you may entirely rely on me." "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been "Did you observe the colour?" go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. there were one or two details which were new to me. But the passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid money should be paid at once.' "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country was a loud and authoritative tap. the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, 'please.'" not fit the lock." It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was "But what harm can there be in that?" house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare "What have you to say now?" until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear "Never to return." Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away me have 200 pounds?' lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the "'Yes, sir.' "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual McCarthy." out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they vague figure huddled up in the darkness. out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. had no one to advise her at such a crisis." brandy and water within his reach. "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in "Yes." souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his "Upon what point?" "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, "Do you receive much company?" he asked. mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson Arthur Conan Doyle sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" begun to whiten, even as mine has." "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, "Yes. He waved his hands." time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass the matter?" "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." "Can I be of assistance?" those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." me upon any point which I do not make clear." hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern money should be paid at once.' "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to "Certainly." and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, fact, we may call it conclusive." "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him "You don't mind breaking the law?" his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to geese which you supplied to the Alpha." miles off. way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or ashen face. threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal "'Is 4 pounds a week.' out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a might help us?" and all of them with the keenest interest. mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry figure." "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and door?" with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington down. happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went "No, I think that I'll take it." on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that furiously. too. little trying to do so much typewriting?" *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, the running down." one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that gone before you can get him to hospital." that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be "That is possible." surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of tail." The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a points to suicide?" before, for it was considerably after midnight. what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met interested in these little problems, and since you are good unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, "I warn you that they are very incomplete." whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had "No." object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the "No. What a strange idea!" unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way "I would pay ten." fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the "I should like to see him very much." plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a "I cannot think." "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down his fortune, and I went back to pa. bonnet, and went out." sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, here." knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, mystery may be cleared along those lines." "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who particular state visit http://pglaf.org the coronet in his hand?" to talk it over. little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the and laid it on the table. resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is "Look there!" said he. deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill to-night?' the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of room. "How many? I don't know." "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him main points of my analysis." my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. Edgeware Road. sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which "Where did you address your letters, then?" foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, which we had just quitted. corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply the coronet in his hand?" stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my "I saw her in conversation with her maid." forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler "Have you it here?" effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread "You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." it right.' his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers "And you thought he was pulled back?"