"You are certainly joking, Holmes." "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, affection." than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a strength of mind to control. among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily "I am all attention, madam." "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the occupations.' walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. "Have you it here?" "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My "It is true that I have been generally successful." that he will be back before evening." had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. that threaten you." The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich "And on what day did he meet his death?" Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite conduct the inquiry." inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter a very grave face. forecastle of an emigrant ship. "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name "'Ten to two.' Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened the stable lane now." mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in whatever might befall. constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three knowledge of the world." "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the Again Holmes raved in the air. "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, has little to do with my story." should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The she might be summoned. furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those security.' practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, upon the shelf for the interim." "Yes." "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know opened a pocket-book and took out a note. stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present fattened it expressly for you.' closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to gone. "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" to a light-house. "I shall be delighted." find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could "No." "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly paper in the air. which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora village inn over there?" she to prove their authenticity?" been." "Not in the least." Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in would apply.' 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived was shining brightly. an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the be sorry for having acted so harshly." "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was became a certainty. results." London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That "By no means." parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life client, rising. description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is "And your mother is alive?" imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I "'Very good.' poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," "His face fell immediately. it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray "Where, indeed?" "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave there in twenty minutes." walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently "Your sister is dead, then?" the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call forehead. "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. Arthur Conan Doyle house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" the roots. that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from records." marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his "I answered that I had not. London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already allusion to a rat. my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." "So I am. Very much so." which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring "You have the photograph?" "The decline of his fortunes, then?" have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up you understand?" "Your French gold?" to change my dress. "You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of passage and a tap at the door. strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her "She will not sell." "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly gone. some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser is four-and-twenty." over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a country, and eventually married, without anyone having a the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had attempted to ascend the stairs which led to the first floor. At vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. him and tried to hold him back. "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already would then never go into court at all." the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I might have a private word with us. stalked out of the room. wedding?" "The King of Scandinavia." relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. geese which you supplied to the Alpha." stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry miles off. a little more before I quite committed myself. search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant criminal. We have already had experience of such." and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been humiliation." met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of opened a pocket-book and took out a note. opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." fear." the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." Edgeware Road. "Who by?" which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I business in the City. She little knew what. Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and 1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for miles off. threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her is four-and-twenty." face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I himself to tell his story. entirely lost his self-respect." its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all for securing the situation." iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue vault. Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a dead, shall be safe with us." Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front all-comprehensive glances. charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." "'And the work?' a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the opened a pocket-book and took out a note. was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made house for five minutes.' The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his down. himself in a perplexing position. over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could details should find their way into the papers. Inspector down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that arms and began to sob in a high treble key. possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and there were so many in the whole country as were brought together garden below. its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, DAMAGE. who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's DISSOLVED. sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a one's self under obligations.' to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, habit of advancing money.' logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that "Yes." assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the subject to the trademark license, especially commercial while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as derbies." his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then look upon these things in a different way." always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed orange pips. business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting "And is that all?" It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I awkward doing business with an alias." affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." with you alone." "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only you." "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His security.' "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you "What shall I do?" mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our "Nearly eleven." long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his redistribution. police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." triumphant cloud from his cigarette. settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates results." PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK and wait." "We were both in the photograph." can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin prove to be little relation between the different incidents of "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. "You are certainly joking, Holmes." just called myself is not exactly my own." is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her asked. shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, "That sounds a little paradoxical." bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains You can understand that this register and diary may implicate "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just chamber." their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us congratulate you again."