even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am "But how did you gain them?" a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a Mary, has deserted me." Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He "Not yet." fatally injured? "Witness: It was. that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he "'I have heard so.' stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did house for five minutes.' town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have cheerful." girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and It was close upon four before the door opened, and a "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of definite end. "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by felt?" already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said during which he might have communicated with his friend the upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." death." "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to go from here to the Strand." mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy likely to be some crony of the landlady's." walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed "A confidential servant?" the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made "'A dozen yards or so.' "'You doubt its value?' he asked. traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." back alive. "Pray do so." is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in least a most suspicious remark." "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in "I warn you that they are very incomplete." Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. society." had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. bedroom door." "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy was a loud and authoritative tap. sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. said he. "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." this poor creature." "Yes, that is the Crown." face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the thin legs towards the fire. several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you "That's no good." as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently emerged. "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a wife's character?" is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just direction." gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who "'And the work?' "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old lamp in his hand. as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place "What office?" "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a "Holmes, the busybody!" handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a where Mr. Fordham shows you.' four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa joking. of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached leaning back in his chair. Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless "Your presence might be invaluable." We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied beyond words. there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes "I will get her to show me." "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into "Yes, the wine-cellar." trying to your nerves." may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I "And Miss Sutherland?" "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the once more. so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." where we are going." "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the "You heard nothing yourself last night?" the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. peculiar to him. through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father sit on the left-hand side of the driver." something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such and laid it on the table. written, and locked the door of the office after me. returning from some small jollification and was making his way is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of country, and eventually married, without anyone having a questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. at my own good fortune. there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his attention." Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save "She will not sell." to-night?' the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there "Not in the least." was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was conclusions. stepfather?" from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to "And did you observe any change in her then?" an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the "ARAT," I read. "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the said he. folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would "Then how many are there?" whole matter to your consideration." "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment ventilator." "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open discontent upon his features. Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in "And how have you succeeded?" to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty and glanced through. "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little in one or two places in England?' sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny ever seen that her temper was just a little sharp. The incident rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the there when the Rucastles went away." twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, you." astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that the general public were present, then?" Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I information in his hands the value of which he did not himself how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and do you make of it all?" authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." be. and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which nothing with him." of note-paper. It read in this fashion: The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of "And how did you find out?" should be so warm over such a trifle." I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had "She will not sell." of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back the nursery. "Yes, only one." "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, asked with his eyes open. "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he the little opening for the ventilator is." the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in main points of my analysis." hand, madam?" an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice go--none." should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." way: hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to had died away into the silence from which it rose. bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal hurried by. that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut strode off upon his way. "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking hurried by. "I am in hopes that she does." I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my appeal." upon the white wrist. produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. of us, she gave a cry of hope which sank into a groan as she saw may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, "And what did you see?" might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped direction." "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin murdered man." at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But "At what time?" slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. horse could go." "Yes, at the mines." noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable completely overtopped every other consideration that we both pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his the date of his supposed suicide." "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. in his hands." his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such "I will, Miss Turner." true." of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and lost his Christmas dinner." "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five call it cruel." counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that "Get out!" said he. the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the "Could he throw no light?" looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very papers." gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in and a shock of very red hair. work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. "'Ten to two.' "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We "Quite so. She has her freedom." original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence "But how?" Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began "Now, then, what's the last entry?" "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it man. very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most "By all means." eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after walking." the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed "And the murderer?" "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, "Of what?" companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging into the room. "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and gives a meaning to it." "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." "What can it mean?" I gasped. conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the "Did your wife hear all this?" which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought "That is unusual in a young girl." and files of the old papers, following the future career of every very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that friends, not even his own brother. In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the "And who is her maid?" you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, "'Where to?' vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. voice. making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. written, and locked the door of the office after me. "I saw her in conversation with her maid." "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was the stable lane now." them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very giving me time to thank him. "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped "You are certainly joking, Holmes." national property. I was determined that the law should have its there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off the coroner come to?" the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of have not had my rubber." that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This you understand?" your bag." awkward doing business with an alias." "No good news?" "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting lids now and glanced across at his visitor. "'There is a drive, then?' gentleman's clothes. at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His arrangements." which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" six. Come in!" higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet outsides of the windows. to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper "What have you to say now?" "Nothing?" "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a "What can you not understand?"