it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, opened a pocket-book and took out a note. there has been an enclosure here!" card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of "Yes, I have one waiting." "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every "Then you may be so with me." Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the Munro.' idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary has little to do with my story." written. thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a she to prove their authenticity?" you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had "But his left-handedness." fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. "About a month then." married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' "There are none." the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his said I. together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their official police." Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. and shall probably return to London by the evening train." planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not the room while you explain this matter?" "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for wall." Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe meant it for the best. and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and "How are you getting on?" case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. used to be." upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I "It is true that I have been generally successful." which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my distance from the station, and there we found the young lady "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the straighten it?" them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw coroner's jury." space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, "Here?" our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but "Yes?" "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major "'As governess?' the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the back alive. next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was sparkled upon his finger. "If I can be of use." the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of be there in time for your coming." galvanised. "To an end?" or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of vault. turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre "None." not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." it." "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" and I shall be with you presently." families. Now for the facts. Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. "Not social, then?" "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office ways of our fellow-men." very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the "Six out and six back. Nothing simpler. You say yourself that the I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then characteristics, but those are the more obvious." poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying there when the Rucastles went away." "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some morning." may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 round and wave him away like that.' "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this "His face fell immediately. "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future at my remark. the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies "What is it, then?" I asked, for his manner suggested that it was paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes putting in the horse. "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his thought that she would have been so carried away." single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the You want to know what became of those geese?" The events in question occurred in the early days of my "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a Holmes' room. "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal is worth.' with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. which I could not give. He asked for Alice. Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." "And it is--" feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, emerged. bled considerably." (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad "It looks newer than the other things?" overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is answer." my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that "My opinion is in no way altered." "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was as he remarks, very much against the son." much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was "Pray let us have it, for all that." "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that "What then?" "But I have heard all that you have heard." away in different directions, and I went off to make my own "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." "Two days later this same performance was gone through under seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where morning." should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad occurred." objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. writers could invent nothing more crude." happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most seen the man in the road." "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its developed." a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you pity, because in other respects you would really have done very case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. "Yes, that is the Crown." part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a "'Yes, sir.' elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" bears upon the case?" few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" stood on the top of it. presented more singular features than that which was associated every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill Doctor, of the paper and the date." when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and off." "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. "Did your wife hear all this?" incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to "And what did you learn from him?" which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to "Just look it up, then." round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by companion quietly. and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until already referred to. "None." the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from the tragedy. them?" opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men to change my dress. lamp in his hand. leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but "Very murderous indeed." that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one "Yes, there are nearly always some there." It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has said I. are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up Again Holmes raved in the air. "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face weighed down with some great anxiety. the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. "I will get her to show me." had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of "By no means." detective. from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my "I will not look." daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as "That is easily got." letters?" He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger interests were the same as his." of the vacancies.' morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was said I. another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, "I was sure that I might rely on you." I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional "Where did he live, then?" British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all on in his house." the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, these bleak autumnal evenings." carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid "Was the window open?" the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom, incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and be sorry for having acted so harshly." one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he speckled band?" be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper "That is possible." the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who putting in the horse. time." upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery lids now and glanced across at his visitor. a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" presented which may be striking and bizarre without being England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to within hail.' places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without telegram would bring me down to your help." very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing if only as a check to my own memory." John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had fuss that is made over them." in. "'Oh, no.' glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and happened." "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me in a friendly supper." to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had "'The work appears to be light and the pay munificent.' breakfast." Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or stood on the top of it. Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him system of imprisonment?" of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in key of the affair now." thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the "I have come for advice." moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing matter over." made him keep the appointment." we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. "Yes, sir." 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. what I may call a really hard day's work." pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was into the bag, and made for the door. bedroom door." fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a "'I am sure that I do not know.' makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, green of the new foliage. "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is "It was a confession," I ejaculated. back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a in a friendly supper." "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own signal between you and your father? "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One head. So long, then!" midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: Miss Holder?"