instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the to that open window." array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell a monotonous occupation." transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came to take care of herself." your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." the address that was given us in the advertisement. brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the "You think that he is dead?" "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm where she found matters as described by the last witness. cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we cost them two and thirty pounds." "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until his face which made him a very different person to the round, emerged. not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a "It is half-past ten now." his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the "I don't say that. Perhaps." pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! upon an income of about 60 pounds." the side-table." The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some "But his left-handedness." "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" "I was mad--insane." "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. "No." clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to up this clue while it is still hot." "And you thought he was pulled back?" "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a sake, don't!" story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. "You have a clue?" "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after public press." beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with "And sit in the dark?" corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other careless servant girl?" "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. "It looks newer than the other things?" Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No prisoner's face. "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" I shall communicate with you." McCarthy's innocence. mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you your room." centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can affection." Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to the inquest, and which are worth considering." running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in face and glided from the room. younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in "When did it break out?" other, as fresh and trim as possible. the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the *** START: FULL LICENSE *** weary and pale-looking. "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" "Yes, only one." "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere arrested. You then--" baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return this remarkable episode. lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, Mary, has deserted me." that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I "Frequently." for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. tear off another piece?' wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her train.' to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some speckled band?" clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were which our visitor detailed to us. presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean "Always." which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual are, I think, all that we need." signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster had this final quarrel? morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set "What is it?" over here." foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my disappearance of the bride.'" "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." said he, "my real name is James Ryder." sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang galvanised. Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The of." outbreak?" cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've from you?" that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." "And help." sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and of campaign. towards the blaze. may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as locked." saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora province." Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers lumber-room." "Where is it, then?" one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police "No." the night.' own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you "Holmes, the busybody!" possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were attention." me where it went to?" matter over." the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from charged with?" the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of "Certainly." The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no burst out into a roar of laughter. the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for "I shall most certainly do so." good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has which was all perfectly true. room. "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect trying to your nerves." your own bird, so if you wish--" enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of hardly wander." room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right feature." upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. walking." opportunities to fix the problem. he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I new acquaintance to Baker Street. us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could than to us. to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside "And how did you verify them?" "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. posted to-day." yet." pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called Miss Holder?" "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which "I don't believe it." general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: newspaper selections." surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would awkward doing business with an alias." back into the street. the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian "No, I think that I'll take it." window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium obstinate." patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, electronic works set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this congenial hunt. or other trace. But how on earth--" room?" gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet "They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship." sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." again before evening." "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing "I would give my fortune to have them back." Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 all that?" had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in "But you were on a friendly footing?" "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as are, and they are waiting for us." Mary, has deserted me." go--none." will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do go--none." mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the sparkled upon his finger. "The doctor?" then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." vague figure huddled up in the darkness. where she found matters as described by the last witness. "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by "Oh, the cause is excellent!" "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons that you can jump it.' it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, American. Then who could this American be, and why should he copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. bird of prey. authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from Chief Executive and Director broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while compunction about shooting them down." and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building whether it answered to the description of any of their hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and "'No, I know no one in these parts.' "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." pound a week." There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the "How did you trace it, then?" "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. who was a member of your goose club." "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin there." called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, front of the hall door has given its name to the place. Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow "Where, then?" that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was Does that suggest anything?" him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are joking. sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that way in everything. "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." "There is the writing." "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper upon a handsome competence. "No, my brougham is waiting." mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all "I should wish to." "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora "I don't believe it." watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which already been minutely examined." there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few assist you in forming an opinion." "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned possible that we could bring him back to her? "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This was keenly on my guard against him. believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I becomes even more simple." there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, "Ah, but I was recommended to you." Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who hand, madam?" London for the present?" "One horse?" interjected Holmes. followed. dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events the window, rose as we entered. 1.E.9. "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was ways including including checks, online payments and credit card offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a union?" important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She upon an income of about 60 pounds." occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the you want, then?' been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, The summons was a brief and urgent one. can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too "On your arm?" the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I golden eyeglasses.