"Yes, only one." o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you "What will you say?" "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it colour had been driven from his face. "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a details should find their way into the papers. Inspector "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." "Where is it, then?" there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. writing, and yet I know it well." night.' said he. turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just your co-operation." days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it maid will bring up your coffee." of your young ladies.' transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There "And it is--" Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door was a perfect sample of the class. that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no compunction about shooting them down." morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of "At what time?" sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the "Where, then, is my wife?" circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power "Who was the criminal, then?" "I never have." been anything against him. He had for years been known as a faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first with you alone." "A thing like a cleaver," said he. back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, once more for Briony Lodge. "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be "'Entirely.' "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him like that before?" violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were "It is his hat." the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations "It was a confession," I ejaculated. good for you to do.' purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a forbidden door. "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." "Very much so." what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about the one as in the other." drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." suddenly upon us." all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" both be extremely obliged.' Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and at home. dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet "'Ten to two.' "And it is--" play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. without success. At last the little money which I had saved began covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with unprecedented a position." especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you allusion to a rat. in my life." Farm upon the left." "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I "Not I." elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to laugh and put his lips to my ear. daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who electronic works "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and too. my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop to me. together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the amused." now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP above the wrist, where the typewritist presses against the table, that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." have accepted such a situation. high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, individual and becomes the badge of a society." "Here?" practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really o'clock is it?" electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt breakfast?" "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and the warnings." deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of people in all walks of life. at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to "Have you her photograph?" "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at Leadenhall Street--and--" what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are made his money." at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and do.' It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me congenial hunt. This is what he says: "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which Where does the thing come from?' you." long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without and inquire as to the address." "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these "Won't it ring?" next day. pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic "What will you say?" have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my one's self under obligations.' interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we "Absolutely none." "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss Gutenberg-tm License. begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to washing it down with a long draught of water. back alive. enter into my head. fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a "He disappeared so suddenly." told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. the loss of it. "Stolen." me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in skylight. "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged you." "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be main points of my analysis." relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court in this note: opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of "So I am. Very much so." "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been furiously. passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." present." "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I "That you are never beaten." would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that "I cannot think." "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what at once, for I have only half an hour." "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even God! What an exposure! What can I do?" Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are was once confined in the cab my mission was practically the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. that I am arrested." had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He woman who has had her own way to make in the world. "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much since then to throw any light upon what became of him." the address that was given us in the advertisement. back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would quickly through a disagreeable task. until night should bring an explanation. leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH "We were both in the photograph." familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with in a very precise fashion." down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. me have 200 pounds?' "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, hopeless attempt at recovering them." single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible delirious. without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his gives a meaning to it." "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her crowd. "'Never.' without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his six. Come in!" caressing and soothing his manner was--'and what has frightened "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET know that the truth is known." "Just look it up, then." Pool. yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting "Where, indeed?" out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it instincts rose up against that laugh. you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is "When did it break out?" "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be awkward doing business with an alias." my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before "You are all wrong." banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought "Not social, then?" matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it "Pray do so." "No, my brougham is waiting." "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of "I assure you that I am in your hands." its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there about here speaks of his kindness to him." Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO "But to whom?" "I am following you closely," I answered. must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less it." "Tired-looking or fresh?" suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading noble correspondent could be. "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. dead, shall be safe with us." throat." these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' "What then?" Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to could not account in any way for the presence of the missing Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me vault. you do it in twenty minutes!' of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I "But we can't all be." "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow asked with his eyes open. turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety window when the police appeared." "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about "Was he the only applicant?" having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes "It was." "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship the south-west, I see." "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future there was no need for father to know." reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. "Yes." End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman said he. "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a our word." "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my that you can jump it.' watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a "Not particularly." "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, events than those which have happened in my own family." Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting "Was the window open?" "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will within hail.' piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband "Indeed! Whose, then?" to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention very old mansion. between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood presume?" the little opening for the ventilator is." afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away