pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me brandy and water within his reach. weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous "Then the page we have seen--" back into the street. takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the explained, has got out of order, and we wish your advice upon the moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in stalked out of the room. been lifted and conveyed somewhere." to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered "Not in the least." Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, round and wave him away like that.' his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two so far?" the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the cigar and let me expound." like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, four million human beings all jostling each other within the maid will bring up your coffee." inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, new acquaintance to Baker Street. the so-precious time, but come!' his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his from the brougham. answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and "And how did you verify them?" studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." "It is possible." in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." conversation I have gathered that they have been married about the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two I shall communicate with you." "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left steps--for the house was none other than the opium den in which down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of danger is over." understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from "What will you do, then?" "You did not overhear what they said?" having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done "Where, indeed?" afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out "Why did you pick him?" gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting "Yes." "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before it." made him keep the appointment." him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and "'There is a drive, then?' "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." "What, then, did Peterson do?" flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, "And how have you succeeded?" "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the followed. resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the "Who was the criminal, then?" of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the occupation, but was interested in several companies and went into "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police I took the paper from him and read as follows: "Holmes, the busybody!" upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my some mystery and the punishment of some crime." "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both charge against him will break down." "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been tapping his fingers upon the table. his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was indeed happy." that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite Have you good authority for what you say?" The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you if I call to-morrow?" penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of "Then the page we have seen--" His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very the date of his supposed suicide." been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong take the flies, but not before." endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you man. I know him from the photograph." had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were "By train from Waterloo." when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him "No more words. Get out!" to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted acted in my house last night?" they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." later, upon the night of May 2nd." behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed "And now?" I asked. "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and "Perhaps we may make them less so." "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect "Look there!" said he. "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in "I should like to see him very much." sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to "But she will refuse." line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," "Nothing?" to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is politicians who had been sent down from the North. "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall cost them two and thirty pounds." He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as done what I asked you, Jones?" you give your casting vote to?" scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the strange features which were associated with the two crimes which in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped "Two days later this same performance was gone through under commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been reach." and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt "Yes, only one." "Certainly." This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if "You know me, then?" http://gutenberg.net/license). father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for over here." have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not arrangements." "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I have I gained?" George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his once more for Briony Lodge. "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." of." rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got sentimental considerations in the background which would induce transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to second window is the one that I jumped from." assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a late!' as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" hopeless attempt at recovering them." the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the not within a twentieth part of the market price." professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter character. he. father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the "That is easily got." "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded to have that photograph." "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is gbnewby@pglaf.org "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. "I do." my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four shall use the carriage to-night." "We have tried and failed." Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs was keenly on my guard against him. records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be "Yes." works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain six. Come in!" "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which written. "The Cedars?" beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned that he will be back before evening." serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he "My photograph." "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there me upon any point which I do not make clear." chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to "Nearly eleven." sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the go from here to the Strand." "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." "So I am. Very much so." "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary know that the truth is known." you?' "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact cause to be." parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been deduce something from that?" some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ papers on the sundial.'" from the brougham. safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to business?" flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and most interesting one." "Dark enough and sinister enough." decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our it." was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive green of the new foliage. estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am weary and pale-looking. this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This good-night and bustled off upon her way. "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal in the port of London." "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I "Where did you address your letters, then?" "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such without a word or a look. that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with "'Very good.' "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no "The decline of his fortunes, then?" is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" husband's writing, madam." Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I "I was mad--insane." been anything against him. He had for years been known as a "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed suspect him." ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and business in the City. She little knew what. from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not down. quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who depend upon your compliance." and that he would see to anything that turned up. a room. of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. clanging. business at Coburg Square is serious." for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age "That sounds a little paradoxical." Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a "Never to return." photograph?" permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into neither fascinating nor artistic." chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round "That is easily got." zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and lectures into a series of tales." "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself up this clue while it is still hot." Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight Street. "One?" "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the one which it was hard to resist. conduct the inquiry." roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the quite distinctive." Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." right! Sit down and let us talk it over." which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with "They are typewritten," I remarked. heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must own family. fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some in. 1.F. "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. made his money." compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and and the church but not where the lady lived." into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to the inner apartment." "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for