opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose "I would pay ten." "Will you go?" even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them "No, finished." "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the true." and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which of Fenchurch Street." drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that "It is solved." "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get "Yes, but only for you and me." neither fascinating nor artistic." "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time views." agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few "Pray tell us what has happened to you." permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into "'Where could I find him?' something of him before." into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other was lame." something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, forbidden door. are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all "You forget that I know nothing about it." grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We "But how could you guess what the motive was?" past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the here and I will read it to you: urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this it. a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. "Not yet." Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide hardly wander." man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room "I say that I have solved it." whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to trifles." Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the DAMAGE. scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an "Then, as to money?" "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too tell him that I know him to be innocent." Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for a suggestive one." you in yours." just called myself is not exactly my own." was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day your co-operation." fat-encircled eyes. "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She upon an income of about 60 pounds." "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I astonishment. threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and you understand?" "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, system of imprisonment?" hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my a few minutes he said that it would be all right. ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in the Friday. Was it to be in church?" It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this opened the door, and slipped through. he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her Dr. Gregory B. Newby "What is the meaning of it all, Mr. Holmes?" disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned outsides of the windows. generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm "Why? What do you mean?" Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I "Awake, Watson?" he asked. Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your "My dear Holmes!" my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our most interesting one." "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted "Eh? What was that?" a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all strange features which were associated with the two crimes which "I should wish to." such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite "But your client--" passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged "'What would be the hours?' I asked. "I think that I had better go, Holmes." during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." voice, changing her seat as requested. "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger "'Yes, sir.' "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass writer." "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I sofa. This way, please!" appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if coffee, for I observe that you are shivering." persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be "And you thought he was pulled back?" already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a said he. a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My strength in the others." St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin arrangements." of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the bed dies. Does not that strike you?" man. I know him from the photograph." form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in detained." "My photograph." Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got "Yes." had this final quarrel? but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I night.' said he. "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it "Do you receive much company?" he asked. three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." good for you to do.' following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed congratulate you again." in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, I leave." "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody "Yes." until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was jewels which you have stolen?' hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which whatever might befall. towards the blaze. "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, "But of what society?" exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else "I will not look." "Then he might have called to you?" lips." fish-monger and a tide-waiter." "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he "'Yes.' certainly do as you advise." Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project better grown goose." received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." of the way of danger. which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, charge against him will break down." which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but own family. "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any from you?" "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the your bag." which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of "And your father? Did you tell him?" hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client "You'll never persuade me to believe that." flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over national property. I was determined that the law should have its "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose "What! a murderous attack?" since then to throw any light upon what became of him." fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your other means.' Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes "But what is it you wish?" had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my "It is to him that this trophy belongs." "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added the King without delay." sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached may have an influence upon European history." "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not delighted to hear it," he said. of his shoulders. behind me. Again Holmes raved in the air. "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have over part of the map. "What do you read?" to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. nonsense.' enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The maid will bring up your coffee." because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now ago." Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted sufficient punishment." so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the hereditary King of Bohemia." long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the dear old homesteads?" "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all way in." sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole "'About the same.' her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, "'Tell me all about it,' said I. hopeless attempt at recovering them." and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or very old mansion. have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try "Precisely." so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and father's young wife. it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained companion quietly. used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more "What do you make of that, Watson?" dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was to tell." society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of power." as he remarks, very much against the son." where she found matters as described by the last witness. it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a mystery." developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over companion. association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to "And it is--" the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the lips." we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might Arthur Conan Doyle you came in." attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and mysterious end." deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his present." "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and I shall continue with my miserable story. with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to it." "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the IS society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I "So I have heard." crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by should be so warm over such a trifle." "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining there were one or two details which were new to me. But the bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been maid will bring up your coffee." "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George himself in a perplexing position. There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide time." people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing me, and I could not think that his explanation of the "Yes, there are nearly always some there." "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an "Not yet." fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire to a light-house. Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from examine." said Mr. Holder. Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently "What can it mean?" I gasped. sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before of the vacancies.' this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, intrusion of other matters." business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when "Yes." "Nor running a chance of arrest?" The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the with the outside air!" 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and