"Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their never came back." should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" information in his hands the value of which he did not himself "Yes." gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no prisoner's face. your co-operation." for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On night.' said he. at my own good fortune. "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual "Of what day?" the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. "Witness: It was. it means?" might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my the ceiling. yet." attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in details should find their way into the papers. Inspector IS betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. "I cannot tell." guilty parties." to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary what I may call a really hard day's work." had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right "It is a murder, then?" abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square look upon these things in a different way." hard-headed British jury." the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this impression behind it as though a window had gently closed this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. one else, I think." satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, the date of his supposed suicide." of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and "None." very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, in a friendly supper." ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very "'Certainly not.' *** START: FULL LICENSE *** heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your "And how did he make his money?" "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get "Texas, I think." to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. "This concluded the examination of the witness." the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. remarked. it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" "Pray be precise as to details," said he. place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after if I call to-morrow?" these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it allusion to a rat. but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did business came to an end." the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the "And from a noble client?" saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, down. with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite where Mr. Fordham shows you.' "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the one which it was hard to resist. neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you promised to bring home. from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the "By train from Waterloo." again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger paper in the air. "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." annoyance, but no jest. January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my to miss it." ran thus: key turn in the lock." "What, then, did Peterson do?" may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, "To ruin me." TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, "How did that help you?" something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such "What, then, did Peterson do?" and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight disappearance of the bride.'" such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay your co-operation." "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it off." minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, "But it has twice been burgled." business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over cup of tea. deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak Clair, of Lee." "Here?" can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. sooner or later she must fall a victim. of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the I am not easy in my mind about them." "Did you observe the colour?" Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon second." "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time rat could hardly pass through." "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and stepfather?" body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." tail." American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking "There is the writing." whether it answered to the description of any of their "I will get her to show me." one else, I think." for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" that daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon "Then, how do you know?" could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves companion. rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free golden eyeglasses. it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are "Has he come with you to-night?" the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper was a perfect sample of the class. as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. said he. For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in look dissatisfied." "'What do you call purely nominal?' rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his "'Is 4 pounds a week.' trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, to surprise her." companion. go from here to the Strand." he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." dead, shall be safe with us." "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I true." was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that forebodings. vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. "And help." "And how in the world did you find them?" nights." My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been empty. certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can "On your arm?" so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house during the last few years, and there are many noble families to knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed "I have come for advice." Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, "In your heart of hearts, do you think that Neville is alive?" showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while "Did you become engaged then?" "Oh, fresh and glossy." "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it "No sign of it?" sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the "And how have you succeeded?" feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from until night should bring an explanation. believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to what is your own theory as to what took place?" word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or troubles have been weighing upon his mind. red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a "What! You do not mean bodies?" the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no following enigmatical notices: "How on earth--" broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." behind me. secret." "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the of the way of danger. sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a some place of shelter and let the county police know what has we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called "But you would not advise me to refuse?" British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the of." brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he room?" impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' 11:15.' dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss "Ample." as yours." an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was "You were travelling in the States?" he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had will be renamed. "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the "My dear Holmes!" wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For everything which you would wish to know." in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from "One?" "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had "It was an hour's good drive." "It's nothing of the kind." window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." made his money." rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us bare slabs of marble. concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon speckled band?" "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I "My stepfather's business papers." where Mr. Fordham shows you.' wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." floor. "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no "Not social, then?" "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall "She will not sell." "Precisely so. But how--" partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He it with his own hands." It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become people don't know." "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. "She showed me, as I told you she would." such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the "Indeed! Whose, then?" have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in tell him that I know him to be innocent." astonishment. "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" "I fear not." standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, outbreak?" his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about power." "'Why that?' I asks. "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. Farm upon the left." formed some opinion?" Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken "What is it?" an introduction to him?" wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a 1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they do.' and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was "Quite so. She has her freedom." triumphant cloud from his cigarette. "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just guilty one." vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon "No good news?" your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this "Precisely." his knees, staring into the fire.