where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and enough to aid us in our search." fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with matter over." unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between I think that I could be of assistance to you." for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive think that he is innocent?" "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a an introduction to him?" for its centre. other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until himself to hunt down. one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have of his shoulders. a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, go from here to the Strand." a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice "It is very clear." sneer upon his pale face. the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, anything to do with the matter?" his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble intimate personal affairs in this public manner." the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter tapping his fingers upon the table. whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works or in danger--" as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was writer." the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned now. It seems that there had been some informality about their destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' "No, thank goodness, she did not." as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent strong reason behind." go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better nothing with him." that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" "You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All neither fascinating nor artistic." was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save 1.F. "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have villagers almost as much as their master. Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From "Never to return." "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott congenial hunt. note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of back alive. unprecedented a position." frequently gained my first real insight into the character of every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the advice." dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious man. I know him from the photograph." coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such "If I can be of use." thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side "They are typewritten," I remarked. "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until copied or distributed: tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You it were putty." slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him indiscretion." "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found "Then you may entirely rely on me." permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would mysterious business." "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of held up the lantern and gazed about him. authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding his cane at the bell-pull. danger is over." him!" girl said." sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." laugh and put his lips to my ear. address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' the matter." as noiselessly as she had come. your own bird, so if you wish--" spark where all is dark to me." centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm gives a meaning to it." "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, chance at all." harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can "The decline of his fortunes, then?" neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. and your relations to her." all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his "One of the highest in England." in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out prepare for the new role I have to play." at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my returning from some small jollification and was making his way Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." throat." back alive. the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of me." Street. "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" good-night and bustled off upon her way. arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned "I think that I had better go, Holmes." "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have brandy and water within his reach. hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and particular state visit http://pglaf.org rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, "BALLARAT." him, that man would not have given me such complete information "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man "Then, as to money?" the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove Lestrade of Scotland Yard." "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock the coronet at all injured?" you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his simple cases which are so extremely difficult." "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge "We must sit without light. He would see it through the excitement. down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I people in all walks of life. observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very head. So long, then!" scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress what these perils are?" "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with fishes. process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I that there was nothing in it, after all." daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you "She walked into the breakfast-room." stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his "By train from Waterloo." this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes a good hundred miles off by now." brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his been with you?" danger is over." roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the I. the coroner come to?" known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that that cause to be." would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the business matters.' maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" "One of his hands." shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning salesman. became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of "My dear Holmes!" he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." cause to be." particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside "No, I think that I'll take it." unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. made his money." Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you in your London, you will know that the office of the company is light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch sparkled upon his finger. "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried "But what will you do?" answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up him. 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still an introduction to him?" "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is light and attacked it." "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but over part of the map. "What do you read?" "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that some mystery and the punishment of some crime." would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is "So it appears." The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about "That is unusual in a young girl." believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand are, and they are waiting for us." least a most suspicious remark." the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in voice, changing her seat as requested. "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded man. I know him from the photograph." "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." new duties?' "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. the child." any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The "'And the work?' wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a "A greater distance to travel." you have a quick eye for colour. Never trust to general "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the "Yes." significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up get her out of the way." been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There "'Yes, sir.' Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man purpose of examination. years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little I took the paper from him and read as follows: those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously pierced for earrings?" in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, chair. taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the "I would give my fortune to have them back." my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most "What will you say?" it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." "Then you may be so with me." case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has where Mr. Fordham shows you.' "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open some terrible trap for her." in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger "I know where it is." like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, least a fellow-countryman. of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an caressing and soothing his manner was--'and what has frightened in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was "Breckinridge is his name." suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point "Of what?" On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. soul! here is her carriage at the door." I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since works. See paragraph 1.E below. hurried by. face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set outside. Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. "Yes." the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon my friend's incisive reasoning. must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most