think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a "How do you know, then?" I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know was it brought him the coronet? overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall in his power. could go. down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: papers diligently of late, have you not?" metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could upon the white wrist. he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of you came in." village inn over there?" this man was intellectual?" broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural Leave Paddington by the 11:15." so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser "It certainly sounds feasible." ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed excitement. had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I miles off. right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said you." hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we written. Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us "It missed him, then?" trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, "I cannot imagine." William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and ashen face. Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the "Entirely." from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old jewels which you have stolen?' Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, "May I see it?" detective. to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are like gravel from a pit.' roused himself from his reverie. what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when this poor creature." "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more into her hand at the door and which lured her within their "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the "Seven!" I answered. with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few "No, distinctly professional." "'What, the red-headed man?' "What are they?" was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 "It is to him that this trophy belongs." assist you in forming an opinion." "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a walking." clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly which our visitor detailed to us. spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, flock.' same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. "9th. McCauley cleared. walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten system of imprisonment?" hereditary King of Bohemia." like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for "I am in hopes that she does." would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen never will be, entirely cleared up. lonely houses, each in its own fields, filled for the most part of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project indeed happy." well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who the bed, and you in that chair." With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he "Perhaps I have." and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I "The Coroner: What do you mean? hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." "I came to find a friend." "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the knowledge of the world." when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire and a shock of very red hair. we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would "Were they all fastened this morning?" from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be present strange and interesting features that it is no easy and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so "It is to him that this trophy belongs." "What! You do not mean bodies?" The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church straighten it?" broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you "Do you receive much company?" he asked. north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange during that time.' existence." labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has not use it unless it is absolutely needed." "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with "Very much so." strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the gentleman's clothes. "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander "Thank you. And your address?" "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying "I see many objections to any such theory." passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it "'And what are they worth?' I asked. understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and Henry Baker is a member." refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm the driver. estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other "We have tried and failed." King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was hurried by. fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case to some other building. inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His "But how did you gain them?" through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had second." may never be exposed to such a temptation." weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one "Frequently." "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the "There are none." and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns never to learn it at all." "The Cedars?" records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' "Not social, then?" entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." but preventing her from injuring another. "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I would then never go into court at all." "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled shoulder. and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I had picked up in the wood. of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom "Pray do so." shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. "Dark enough and sinister enough." straightened it out again. since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew gbnewby@pglaf.org "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events "What steps will you take?" I asked. arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward may have an influence upon European history." the one as in the other." "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" "So it appears." at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project I shall continue with my miserable story. "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for south, for the country is more deserted there." the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with in a friendly supper." "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you "But you can know nothing of this?" "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' Eyford." Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of October 9, 1890. me where it went to?" http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know least a fellow-countryman. woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster Dr. Gregory B. Newby permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young indeed happy." Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged "To an English lawyer named Norton." I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save in. road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a off." "By no means." "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was and files of the old papers, following the future career of every although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom helping a boy to put up the shutters. present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled "By no means." The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs "'Yes, it was gone.' upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I "You are hungry," I remarked. "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous "'And what salary do you ask?' some water from a caraffe. Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" face and glided from the room. how narrow had been my escape. He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a death." is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, "In your heart of hearts, do you think that Neville is alive?" dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to "You have compromised yourself seriously." savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I direction." at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry "What have you to say now?" "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the "Always." any." Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone You can understand that this register and diary may implicate pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but my friend's incisive reasoning. Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking if I call to-morrow?" at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the "Where, then, is my wife?" us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." "Did you observe the colour?" ashen face. and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this happened." remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of you in yours." "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in the coronet in his hands?" have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the very peculiar words of the dying woman?" "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. even so self-evident a thing as that." I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much sufficient punishment." far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the looking up at the numbers of the houses." into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and "Stolen, then." "Yes, it would be as well." cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door presented which may be striking and bizarre without being with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a "You are certainly joking, Holmes." usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove I was concerned in it." "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it garden below. the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a upon an income of about 60 pounds." "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face the armchair which I pushed forward for him. Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple what is your own theory as to what took place?" Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the one of them." not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. 1.F. the room while you explain this matter?" "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her be sorry for having acted so harshly." may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical