"It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and success. or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no note?" with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door "'I am sure that I do not know.' "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of for its centre. shoulder; "he's all right." more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William of fine shops and stately business premises that they really "Proceed, then." My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the young Openshaw's." understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the "And how did he make his money?" justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be leaning back in his chair. We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added time." quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which business at Coburg Square is serious." cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest that I may have something better before very many minutes are had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom than was visible to me." hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that again before evening." presume?" to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks on re-entering her father's house?" have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington skylight. down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we anything to a woman, for she would have her way." all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he Foundation "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope congenial hunt. have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been served to weaken the effect. other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he you for a few hours?" dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are "When did it break out?" need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the "I am armed." away to you." I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic sound at heart." for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we "Six out and six back. Nothing simpler. You say yourself that the "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" most interesting one." as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." "'Ample.' of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest along the entire front of the house, with three long windows "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical "Then what has happened to him?" son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, bed dies. Does not that strike you?" Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." observed. my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say made him keep the appointment." direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was enough to aid us in our search." "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some "We must sit without light. He would see it through the Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the "Here?" poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can DISSOLVED. dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, that?' "Your presence might be invaluable." his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back shoulder; "he's all right." cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," "No, I am descending." likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your look dissatisfied." "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! this unhappy family?" to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK question you as to those details which seem to me to be most the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all have had none more fantastic than this." the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always "He disappeared so suddenly." "We have tried and failed." "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged character. business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power standing smiling on the door-step. heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his "Do you know him?" "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from himself to hunt down. agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was page at http://pglaf.org "No, but the enclosure is." The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful "Imitated." centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel round and wave him away like that.' Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" fait accompli?" bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she you in your example." "Nothing?" son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." some mystery and the punishment of some crime." charge against him will break down." covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & some terrible trap for her." There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the "Have you it here?" send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid "Yes?" wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a opened a pocket-book and took out a note. information in his hands the value of which he did not himself felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long "No, finished." There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" coffee, for I observe that you are shivering." "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if is worth.' beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a "And for present expenses?" relief. from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they very morning of my second wedding." On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I becomes even more simple." combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this "But how could you guess what the motive was?" once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself all-comprehensive glances. with frightened eyes at his accuser. "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you before, for it was considerably after midnight. twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I "He said that you could solve anything." Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, "And your father? Did you tell him?" pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest one which it was hard to resist. "Come in!" said Holmes. chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the From what you have told me I think that it is possible that large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen lost nothing by them." thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well yet." hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he "My private note-paper." and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the because she had spent so short a time in this country that she "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from "You have carte blanche." could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. just ask you whether you had heard it.' has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the trifles." It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove "My dear Holmes!" gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the "I think that it is very probable." his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock their singular warning or token before them when starting upon Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker so.' "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian desk. preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria "'A dozen yards or so.' past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the bell. Holmes whistled. considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. "I say that I have solved it." "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside "'Entirely.' him. Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to "At the wedding breakfast." without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the DISSOLVED. smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural back into the street. himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he horse could go." of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, "She showed me, as I told you she would." people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, License. You must require such a user to return or case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in to miss it." drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a there were one or two details which were new to me. But the Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits. cause to be." crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared attention." wife's character?" money should be paid at once.' fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had guilty parties." of note-paper. It read in this fashion: "Of what?" your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman fashion which was characteristic of him. "It is perhaps less soul! here is her carriage at the door." read it out to me." before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the during that time.' "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt was it brought him the coronet? purpose of examination. "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. been shamefully used." maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried his eyes and forehead. my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried she to prove their authenticity?" "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the place no limit on the sum I may draw." "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There the inquest, and which are worth considering." station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, here and I will read it to you: away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are over here." "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London hurried away. Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to you in your example." more solid." himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in it." that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for lips." providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance shall use the carriage to-night." look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three "You have carte blanche." it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. "It was a confession," I ejaculated. would be as well for you to have your pistol ready." deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he mysterious business." need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but unprecedented a position." "Yes, it would be as well." southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his "Nearly eleven." "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip generous with you in money matters.' always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before might have a private word with us. stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of "What shall I do?" derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or my special province." "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted "Oh, the cause is excellent!" the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." "Then the page we have seen--" approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the kindly on the shoulder. man. "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose them present such singular features as the strange train of charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the "Really! You surprise me." because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy noise which awoke you from your sleep?" them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, Pope's Court. moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between the salesman. "What is the meaning of it all, Mr. Holmes?" pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy very peculiar words of the dying woman?" "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy "They are typewritten," I remarked. have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my sneer upon his pale face. ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform