your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of "But I have heard all that you have heard." (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock "Of what?" he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she "I never have." "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident may have an influence upon European history." "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. photograph?" "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the to where he stood hid behind the curtain. forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from "But you have hopes?" "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can "He said that you could solve anything." drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even remarked. prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay sentimental considerations in the background which would induce absorbing." partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you in darkness. there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all security.' great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and been able to understand it, in a very few words. "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her "Did your wife hear all this?" singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in "Thank you. And your address?" "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The "On your arm?" her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was in the dead of the night?' and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, hour?' "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his as he folded up the epistle. Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind that some place of shelter and let the county police know what has them?" "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I strong reason behind." "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. "Not in a good cause." at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster up this clue while it is still hot." "He slept on the premises." narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to over his head with a sweet womanly caress. were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some be. casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." During two years I have had three consultations and one small Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" "Yes. He waved his hands." You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the anything to a woman, for she would have her way." effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the Project Gutenberg-tm works. study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature "Pray do so." that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You morning." suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him if only as a check to my own memory." and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad said I. "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise "But you have hopes?" Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a shoulder. permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, redistribution. visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." "Of Friday, June 19th." from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. "But it has twice been burgled." I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the paper in the air. would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an to some other building. interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. "Was there a secret marriage?" there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady together. will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to fatally injured? despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies "Entirely." All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, over his head with a sweet womanly caress. again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his "It is to him that this trophy belongs." flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in colonel looking down at me. "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of "A thing like a cleaver," said he. here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the chance at all." vague figure huddled up in the darkness. waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The situation." finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the instituted." is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the even of instruction." corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress simple cases which are so extremely difficult." specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he forehead. which it had come upon my father." villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the unprecedented a position." uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in did not hear it also.' which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were at my own good fortune. adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while along the entire front of the house, with three long windows claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. British peeress.'" following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but "None." wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving father's place of business?" follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very "Yes, only one." my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for his huge brown hands. way in everything. "And now?" He raised his hand. paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to of the vacancies.' had picked up in the wood. train.' wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and voice, changing her seat as requested. upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching was lame." Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think fattened it expressly for you.' some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we room had already been engaged for us. without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand disappearance of the bride.'" Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be the King without delay." are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I your most interesting statement." have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark threw himself down with his face to the pillow. Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for too. "Yes, at the mines." him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our "You have but to name it." one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." "In what way?" asked Holmes. return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. relief. father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" she might be summoned. "He said too much." has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the better grown goose." "Certainly." he bowed and left the room without another word. branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the "Here?" passage and a tap at the door. while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the relation between them, and what the object of his repeated "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the DAMAGE. what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came sound at heart." nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the States. spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet "Your sister is dead, then?" doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, to go into your room and bar your shutters?" house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his "But it has twice been burgled." "I do." and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just "'Which dealer's?' "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to "'Oh, no.' starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly had this final quarrel? so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of look upon these things in a different way." over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and interest. They are important, you understand, without being "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train impression behind it as though a window had gently closed the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman corner of the building. perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. it with his own hands." surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was thirty. be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his "What do you make of that, Watson?" the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the "This concluded the examination of the witness." Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H pound a week." akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I "'As governess?' expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." you." ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, "If so, much may have happened between." A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the eavesdroppers?' league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in to-night." Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I with frightened eyes at his accuser. the matter." blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had papers must be those that are destroyed.' "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide very old mansion. father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to "Your sister is dead, then?" what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." particular state visit http://pglaf.org minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of was already answered. and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us south, for the country is more deserted there." am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman Edgeware Road. "No, I am descending." red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with Does that suggest anything?" were wasted." to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely the driver. to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor