this remarkable episode. eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear generous with you in money matters.' I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he was used.' such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the "Where did he live, then?" her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, is so. I know all about McCarthy." "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I galvanised. in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door your troubles." out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case point in the dark hollow of his hand. to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very dead, shall be safe with us." wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. "And how did he make his money?" hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was woman." "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in "'Oh, no.' Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in and files of the old papers, following the future career of every "Very. But will he see it?" trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to promised to bring home. your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to "But I have heard all that you have heard." distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." there were one or two details which were new to me. But the than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a the coronet in his hands?" once more to my work. from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the it." that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. success. to-night?' train from Paddington which would bring you there at about "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare "What, then, did Peterson do?" The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to "I say that I have solved it." homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round at my own good fortune. politicians who had been sent down from the North. speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them this remarkable episode. unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the the Assizes." the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is did not hear it also.' "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, his grey eyes. served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow along the entire front of the house, with three long windows With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of him to go away.' "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" "The murder was done with it." nonsense.' turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my awkward doing business with an alias." with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem do." "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as like that before?" whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the "And your father? Did you tell him?" "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' "Of what day?" "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. upon the white wrist. were unconscious?" chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of nothing with him." this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an "'Certainly,' I answered. There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. "Yes." amused." "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which chamber." "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is during which he might have communicated with his friend the There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. been deceived." as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the tell them apart.' was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to simple cases which are so extremely difficult." experiences." adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a "Seven!" I answered. five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." again, where I was soon asleep. almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of "What!" he roared. hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which to-night?' unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of "And how have you succeeded?" tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, His name is Francis Prosper." ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on look dissatisfied." "What then?" opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his the house with me." "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." 'please.'" carpenter." Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things You want to know what became of those geese?" "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case "She told me to ask you." "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek down in his armchair and closing his eyes. conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and The note was undated, and without either signature or address. country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is http://www.gutenberg.net tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back written, and locked the door of the office after me. seem to you to be relevant or not." "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." "Do you receive much company?" he asked. he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love absolutely follow my advice in every respect." "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. an introduction to him?" "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his events, Mr. Windibank!" which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one characteristics, but those are the more obvious." "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had there." unprofitable." How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when shag which I had seen upon the previous night. his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, him!" have an American origin." kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a shoulder; "he's all right." said he. I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, astonishment. this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are I think that I could be of assistance to you." eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank at my own good fortune. St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is and no precautions can guard against." It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the would be as well for you to have your pistol ready." a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a your sleep?' obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of wedding?" gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the system of imprisonment?" watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. married her." feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. "We were both in the photograph." upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an "Six out and six back. Nothing simpler. You say yourself that the "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such and have this put in the evening papers." you." going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: clanging. one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy entirely lost his self-respect." foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck shaken than I had ever seen him. back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! again." "It must be recovered." appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a whereabouts. row." besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, bare slabs of marble. as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his politicians who had been sent down from the North. "And Miss Sutherland?" that you can jump it.' unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed something of him before." fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my disappearance of the bride.'" could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work been able to understand it, in a very few words. opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps "You have carte blanche." money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the "But I am all in the dark." "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. up this clue while it is still hot." Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' fled together." of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, Cross for the Continent." "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the said Mr. Holder. where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a entirely lost his self-respect." weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind garden below. for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring "We must have a cab." "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your burst into a hearty fit of laughter. often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, in the dead of the night?' large a sum as a hundred a year, with what you earn into the 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm lamp. for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, conversation I have gathered that they have been married about I shall communicate with you." one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air "No." the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is "It's nothing of the kind." "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of "There are none." silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old