as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" "No. His orders were to stay in the house." him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses gigantic client. question you as to those details which seem to me to be most "I assure you that I am in your hands." key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. "What shall I do?" of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm again on its way. The summons was a brief and urgent one. brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are never will be, entirely cleared up. "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been been able to understand it, in a very few words. Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a we went to search for him, face downward in a little "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a morning." opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, once more. believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home purpose of examination. "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture young Openshaw's." The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some "It missed him, then?" myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of notes," he said. the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten Street. "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, your only hope of safety." and the colonel ushered me in. without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. arms and began to sob in a high treble key. so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I as yours." shoulder; "he's all right." "It's nothing of the kind." Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though to-night?" I asked. "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a empty. There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was "She told me to ask you." was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy "She showed me, as I told you she would." gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout "Which are?" unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the "You think so, too?" understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. what I may call a really hard day's work." Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I placed his cuttings. "The landlord of the Alpha." is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this me, and I could not think that his explanation of the despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about "His face fell immediately. of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought to talk it over. even of instruction." "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the bonnet, and went out." me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' "Well." inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter "'Which dealer's?' home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near "It goes to the housekeeper's room." "To the police?" admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering I took the paper from him and read as follows: "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with as he remarks, very much against the son." compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the "No, I think that I'll take it." "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too silent! Oh, he will be silent!' "You have but to name it." fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the point our research must commence, and we will begin it by "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is shoulder; "he's all right." only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was touch that coronet?' the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of Holmes." nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were "Dirty?" half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a imbecility!" he cried. effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling back into the street. of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the ran thus: vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent outbreak?" and have this put in the evening papers." prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of friend's singular character. "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting "Ah!" upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. second window is the one that I jumped from." took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his "Tired-looking or fresh?" a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would lonely houses, each in its own fields, filled for the most part To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." three fields round his house, and there he would take his "What office?" right! Sit down and let us talk it over." "Well." he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same "My Mary? Impossible!" Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a mystery may be cleared along those lines." to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons only touch the interest." took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are ordered fresh rashers and eggs, and joined us in a hearty meal. Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured his knees, staring into the fire. crackling voice. again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? I shall continue with my miserable story. having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project children over to America with him, so that I found myself without the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray wedding?" were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project been lifted and conveyed somewhere." left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." which was all perfectly true. my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because me." was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would "I cannot as yet see any connection." "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are chance." Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the photograph?" the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point to Leatherhead. "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." noise which awoke you from your sleep?" do.' These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had clang of the bell. corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end." dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did "Quite so." to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens burst out into a roar of laughter. Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very bell. Holmes whistled. you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper good for you to do.' "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he arms and began to sob in a high treble key. trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out shoulder. dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the congenial hunt. the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I be. process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other morning." from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather II. the coroner come to?" metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" could not have written that. It is the German who is so "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate weighed down with some great anxiety. would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop sit on the left-hand side of the driver." meant." suggested at once that there must be a communication between the "Stolen, then." "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the voice. "'And what salary do you ask?' "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The "I saw her in conversation with her maid." undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If bled considerably." work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about "Why, what do you mean?" come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" green of the new foliage. McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps as noiselessly as she had come. husband's writing, madam." admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I the night.' didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to wall." more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." do." him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my in his hands." "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' them, and came down just as you departed. "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I to have been novel and of interest." felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your union?" now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace wife's character?" lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The The summons was a brief and urgent one. "Well." whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its know what is wrong with it.' The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, about here speaks of his kindness to him." "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning "Nothing." and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" "'And the work?' Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double indeed which he could not unravel. "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, was once confined in the cab my mission was practically room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we "It is possible." with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry you, my dear young lady?' Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled "Nor running a chance of arrest?" morning." light and attacked it." better in every way that they should make their position a little facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over upon an income of about 60 pounds." vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a my room." entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from