It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt the child." it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your Leadenhall Street--and--" chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten as yours." surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this "Whose house is it?" morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had rooms." deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend away in different directions, and I went off to make my own down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a your only hope of safety." over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real photograph?" "Yes, that is the Crown." was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As intimate personal affairs in this public manner." IS Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, overpowering excitement and concern. before the coroner and the police-court." was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and "You'll never persuade me to believe that." now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the of note-paper. It read in this fashion: "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a father's young wife. "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord this remarkable episode. "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or "You heard nothing yourself last night?" considering the formidable letters which were received by himself as though some dreadful hand were behind me clutching at the "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he "You will not go there first?" "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the ventilator." was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk direction." The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he salesman. that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a along the entire front of the house, with three long windows the man of whom I had heard. He appeared to be in a theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' "It is possible." John Swain, of St. Augustine. heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm Where does the thing come from?' stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found leaning back in his chair. his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he affection." my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have pierced for earrings?" Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their death." bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house "'It is locked up,' I answered. have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last closely." joking. redistribution. writer." There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the "It is very clear." With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes morning." wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low speckled band?" breakfast and whispered something to her husband. gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in "No sign of it?" "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there delirious. without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there for its centre. eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the indiscretion." 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily the one as in the other." family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been your Highness to the police-station?" hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the "Certainly." "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I "Look there!" said he. these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day speckled band?" air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion don't comply with the conditions if you budge from the office - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future caressing and soothing his manner was--'and what has frightened shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough distinguish the words: through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" occupations.' to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." It may be so in this case, also." "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such upon an income of about 60 pounds." occurred." "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle business." values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress "'Yes, sir.' "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both ceremony." hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of the coroner come to?" "But of what society?" thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom "That was it, sir." being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy I leave." affection." houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in "And on what day did he meet his death?" "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. shoulder; "he's all right." anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and "This concluded the examination of the witness." suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this bearing upon the case." "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my client, rising. fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil recall any case within my experience which looked at the first anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, together. and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their "I have seen the police." the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and "Yes." strong and stiff." three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed October 9, 1890. "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which room?" "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in been shamefully used." "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the "Just look it up, then." habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the you." the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me "It is true that I have been generally successful." pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning "At half-wages, in fact." Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may looking up at the numbers of the houses." threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, examine." his huge brown hands. "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must vague figure huddled up in the darkness. "Bought." II. and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a What do you deduce from it?" marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to and the whole place is in a blaze." villagers almost as much as their master. hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it you give your casting vote to?" which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this the best of training." next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle the address that was given us in the advertisement. the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming occupation, but was interested in several companies and went into himself. "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to fashion which was peculiar to him. Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." the corner. "I have had nothing else to do." to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce country, and eventually married, without anyone having a "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she floor. derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or was used.' impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, "I have come for advice." quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works true." them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a whole matter to your consideration." good for you to do.' "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: purpose of examination. it? Did I buy the geese off you?" "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke "Eh? What was that?" possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before walking." could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the "Not I." "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking "But I am all in the dark." the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square "'Then let me do so?' "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his character. "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." "I say that I have solved it." on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened "Were they all fastened this morning?" As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest "And how have you succeeded?" posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), The summons was a brief and urgent one. her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you the window, rose as we entered. more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the this as likely?" the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a Watson," he said cordially. Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I get the tickets." for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and kind enough to tell me what I should do." "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally business matters.' resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits. pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble "Where, then, is my wife?" them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land window when the police appeared." retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some Pope's Court, Fleet Street." case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem it." of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in "Very much so." written. o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you