sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester "Precisely." hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," of it with the greatest attention. garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and good-night and bustled off upon her way. if I call to-morrow?" breakfast and whispered something to her husband. fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at the night.' bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The was a perfect sample of the class. "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an and shall probably return to London by the evening train." wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, "May I see it?" Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in this unhappy family?" took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera returning from some small jollification and was making his way poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. without a word or a look. specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the point in the dark hollow of his hand. find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden "If so, much may have happened between." We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies whether it answered to the description of any of their "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to "9th. McCauley cleared. how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet "It missed him, then?" and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their "Very well, sir. And this stone?" Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have at a side door. "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly "Your French gold?" covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with "My photograph." adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As ill-usage at the hands of fortune. "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him both be extremely obliged.' "'And the work?' do.' "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few we went to search for him, face downward in a little man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his swore that no one else had been in the front room during the of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not "Very truly yours, "Holmes, the busybody!" own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom, "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous thirty. reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' not come at once?" I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and unprofitable." left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat the nursery. the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your direction." to-night's adventure." the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in in him." him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the it? Did I buy the geese off you?" ready to-morrow?' "Very truly yours, to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See "That's no good." "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, call for protection in the marriage market, for the present and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very himself to tell his story. passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a "No more words. Get out!" With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he Surrey." through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a south, for the country is more deserted there." severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end." unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in "'Never.' "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, fait accompli?" "Was the window open?" heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note is four-and-twenty." the matter?" Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your obstinate." "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this beyond words. gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in golden eyeglasses. "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of been able to understand it, in a very few words. wedding?" front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous door?" on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The any." "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I "No." "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my Street. be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already "But how?" condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is important." in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads "So I am. Very much so." somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we politicians who had been sent down from the North. a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in furiously. position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting "This concluded the examination of the witness." "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The again on its way. secret." hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added key turn in the lock." way in." analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until "It is no ordinary one." "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my the night.' "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried God! What an exposure! What can I do?" honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the "Yes, at the mines." likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. cup of tea. upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my bears upon the case?" 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set confronted him. "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a "How did he come?" in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to will not take me long to tell. the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, rooms." said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would gone. merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did than was visible to me." "By no means." and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among golden eyeglasses. any little problem which you may submit to me." difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were experiences." "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault coffee, for I observe that you are shivering." waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let "Then how many are there?" This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the place no limit on the sum I may draw." the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught asked with his eyes open. was used.' the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but tied." that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I where we are going." he died? preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then page at http://pglaf.org considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were one of the states of the Union." the side-table." her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my was a lad." we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, opportunities to fix the problem. A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the Serpentine Avenue. employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then "I am armed." lips." plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. "And how did you verify them?" gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been "Seven!" I answered. not interfere, come what may. You understand?" unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen "Nothing." be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who entirely devoid of interest." to Leatherhead. then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' coat-tails." "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, "And the murderer?" "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did "No?" It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet his cane at the bell-pull. fashion which was peculiar to him. will not take me long to tell. disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." that I am arrested." so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was one which it was hard to resist. bird I ate is country bred." skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" and the whole place is in a blaze." make me his representative both with the servants and with the it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it "You forget that I know nothing about it." "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of his knees, staring into the fire. that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, sufficient punishment." His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips she might be summoned. reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of matter." have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to examination of the premises, but without finding anything which "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I Mary, has deserted me." closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. "Well." waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent habit of advancing money.' in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I "And now?" I asked. look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between national property. I was determined that the law should have its bearing upon the case." my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by room had already been engaged for us. could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself "What then?" note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined this poor creature." you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. the matter?" the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." "A call for help, you thought?" a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had companion imperturbably. heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke was a loud and authoritative tap. "Oh, fresh and glossy." "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then for the market.' often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my