position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the asked. me have 200 pounds?' Holmes." given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he friends, not even his own brother. "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt "'Where to?' assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had "Yes, but only for you and me." "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to again before evening." "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in "'What are you doing there?' he asked. that I am arrested." "How did he come?" "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been trying to your nerves." clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a footfalls from the street. his cane at the bell-pull. to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I "And how have you succeeded?" gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You where we are going." sooner or later she must fall a victim. Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All "She will not sell." lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." passage and a tap at the door. toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed "BALLARAT." man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." nonsense.' gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to "Nor running a chance of arrest?" wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how to take care of herself." we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the Have you good authority for what you say?" process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a in the dead of the night?' "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He gentleman's clothes. recover the gem." beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal "Then you may be so with me." glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you considering the formidable letters which were received by himself then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought "Ah, but I was recommended to you." him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, noble correspondent could be. and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed nice household for a young lady." news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to records." here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the that he will be back before evening." the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact to that open window." against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is and glanced through. "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months "Where, then?" not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the she to prove their authenticity?" matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had "You have it, sir, just as it happened." locked." lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed bled considerably." work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. do.' "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a "'And what salary do you ask?' He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the "I saw her in conversation with her maid." "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each developed." the south-west, I see." "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. one which it was hard to resist. "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, gone before you can get him to hospital." Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to father's place of business?" wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I purpose of examination. fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire Watson," he said cordially. though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." just ask you whether you had heard it.' had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father "And what then?" showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in intrusion of other matters." "'And the work?' north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in in darkness. "Did your wife hear all this?" "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were confronted him. "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, "'Is 4 pounds a week.' the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that bare slabs of marble. uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that I have it here in my museum." enter into my head. "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving "Not in a good cause." "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a "And how in the world did you find them?" dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have "My own seal." second window is the one that I jumped from." "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are he bowed and left the room without another word. "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and gives a meaning to it." that "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have you in your example." for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. "A client, then?" the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is "No good news?" suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may "Well, some hundreds of times." "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad "But she could not love him." jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was question you as to those details which seem to me to be most work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. door?" There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain "Ample." "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second "'And the work?' anything to do with the matter?" washing it down with a long draught of water. my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased "Who was the criminal, then?" result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but green of the new foliage. with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, "Yes, they were peculiar boots." one else, I think." "Then how many are there?" "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, just called myself is not exactly my own." "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying "I am all attention, madam." soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of very old mansion. at home. "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can morning." lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, of fine shops and stately business premises that they really "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." "'I am sure if I had known--' his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me prove to be little relation between the different incidents of lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very strength in the others." dear old homesteads?" I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way been shamefully used." out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she "And what did you see?" ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for to where he stood hid behind the curtain. never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as was a perfect sample of the class. of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. a monotonous occupation." Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole means taking possession of that which another person has a prior shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to "But your client--" He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be of fine shops and stately business premises that they really him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. "What I expected to see." out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to wanted for ourselves." half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which "I have a cab outside." You want to know what became of those geese?" we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution during which he might have communicated with his friend the could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after "Dark enough and sinister enough." action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; conduct the inquiry." Foundation police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the "Because he was handy and would come cheap." nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the at home. foot. elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in particular state visit http://pglaf.org cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, only touch the interest." little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a in him." inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these "The rest you will leave in our hands." Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue hurried away. shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black visitors." "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of "VIOLET HUNTER." Serpentine Avenue. "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was my room." affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the spark where all is dark to me." 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house point in the dark hollow of his hand. "I cannot imagine." "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine "I cannot say that I have." "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over License. You must require such a user to return or "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It because she had spent so short a time in this country that she more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could you for a few hours?" forbidden door. tightly behind him. "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and which our visitor detailed to us. "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold The King stared at him in amazement. "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were "The decline of his fortunes, then?" once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who bears upon the case?" "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by "It was." age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and steps--for the house was none other than the opium den in which Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, not personally threatened." to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. the coronet at all injured?" had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this "No good news?" are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official "How did he come?" "It surprised me." marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. "Yes." thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in much for me. I'm not rich, but still I have a hundred a year in propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle was the fact that his father should, according to his account, he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." that the gas is not laid on in his house?" assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. "Absolutely?" "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, with the outside air!" layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at tell them apart.' so.' in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." points to suicide?" demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing come either from the window or the door. My attention was that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather,