desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent "'Never,' said I. and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed which we had just quitted. "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the "Your sister is dead, then?" "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the "So it appears." wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net "Yes." this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a "I have solved it." "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it "Dark enough and sinister enough." "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have Miss Holder?" old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say "'About the same.' same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of Again Holmes raved in the air. property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building existence." down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." children over to America with him, so that I found myself without eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and "Do you receive much company?" he asked. is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event papers." "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between in the port of London." against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance ways including including checks, online payments and credit card when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two States. "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' situation." "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite ceremony." imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get *** START: FULL LICENSE *** made him keep the appointment." little trying to do so much typewriting?" abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a of the one which your family is now devouring." stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken opportunities to fix the problem. "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to to change my dress. "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the "They are typewritten," I remarked. "When did she vanish, then?" that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the clang of the bell. in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in that there was nothing in it, after all." reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. "I never have." whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even "The vanishing of the lady." "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. within hail.' scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should lost nothing by them." "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked is a common subject for conversation. propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' "Yes." "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. she has been waylaid. There has been no result." compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any London for the present?" "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in opened the door, and slipped through. you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so chance at all." all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you my room." fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I never will be, entirely cleared up. "And how?" public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a "Entirely." upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still Pope's Court. "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no you." leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their me." glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip bird I ate is country bred." whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from "No." "Yes?" electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers written. into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" "'What are you doing there?' he asked. league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some before the coroner and the police-court." "He is dead," cried several voices. "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you secret." Watson," he said cordially. "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be been anything against him. He had for years been known as a "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this address. "'What are you doing there?' he asked. "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the is four-and-twenty." that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his his face which made him a very different person to the round, sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a own family. of." really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. felt the room to be a little close.' paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project been lifted and conveyed somewhere." We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was 1.F. each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy directly by questioning you." either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. "Imitated." "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two do.' "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, know that the truth is known." "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was your billet.' "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little man. any little problem which you may submit to me." down. right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." retorted upon me, and I on you." companion. purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about politicians who had been sent down from the North. but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for is worth.' dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. forbidden door. my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not observed. PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no be sorry for having acted so harshly." one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the "Of what?" is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, "What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told "'There is a drive, then?' unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for "And I say east," said my patient. overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran joking. "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said me." black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he front of the hall door has given its name to the place. little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should it. It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the gone before you can get him to hospital." have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he had this final quarrel? grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He shoulder. "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped public press." lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a his grey eyes. heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you beyond words. always that they were such commands as a lady might with Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug nothing of it?" little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that "'You doubt its value?' he asked. of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the union?" "And is that all?" He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." "And now?" I asked. more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that appeared upon the scene." know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been "Very murderous indeed." "Perhaps we may make them less so." and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of this remarkable episode. office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And you." eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round she to prove their authenticity?" confronted him. perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that a very grave face. "And on what day did he meet his death?" shoulder. glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of even of instruction." PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and unprecedented a position." we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip "You have carte blanche." "My photograph." and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang "'Ample.' he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for "What office?" tapping his fingers upon the table. fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have away to you." anything to a woman, for she would have her way." lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt not as remarkable as your advertisement." daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs himself to hunt down. "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for "I am about to be married." her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled "You know me, then?" you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. gentleman's clothes. into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred opportunities to fix the problem. lectures into a series of tales." material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable "But the mystery?" treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is him!" lamp in his hand. better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, your equipment. "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the on re-entering her father's house?" see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his Serpentine Avenue. Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the thirty. We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, point our research must commence, and we will begin it by "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting "No bad?" frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets "I am following you closely," I answered. seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor "I should like to see him very much." characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my girl's short sight, he appears as Mr. Hosmer Angel, and keeps off mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a "And Miss Sutherland?" "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On whole matter to your consideration." ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with that slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him too. charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in think that he is innocent?" reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had "And now?" He raised his hand. American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking subject to the trademark license, especially commercial "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the disappearance of these gems?" "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. success. have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss