"He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for our word." have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the made him keep the appointment." in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER "And you don't know his address?" had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and "No more words. Get out!" look upon these things in a different way." Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the fishes. the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right "Only as much as we can deduce." certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" walking." "Your presence might be invaluable." brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with copied or distributed: form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we hour?' before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may "And now?" I asked. other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to "Yes." at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the "Frequently." as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young "Why? What do you mean?" still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to "But not more so than I to find you." upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from papers." prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that third from London." We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon entirely devoid of interest." first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his "A thing like a cleaver," said he. pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. yourselves in at night?" destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium This is what he says: uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, felt the room to be a little close.' has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and Have you good authority for what you say?" "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which "Witness: I must still refuse. opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the "No, finished." "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the over part of the map. "What do you read?" coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the "Oh, the cause is excellent!" crowd. of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, hopeless attempt at recovering them." "It certainly sounds feasible." dates and names. "'Certainly not.' fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw on re-entering her father's house?" "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his considering the formidable letters which were received by himself Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" way in everything. "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking this as likely?" persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. "A thing like a cleaver," said he. Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel "Then you may be so with me." paper in the air. he died? breakfast." death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking walking." wedding?" prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for attempted to ascend the stairs which led to the first floor. At 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. "And it is--" Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his go from here to the Strand." vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it "And what did you learn from him?" usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I and wait." harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, "It was a confession," I ejaculated. top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was brought there to personate someone, and the real person is is acting for the best. the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. has little to do with my story." locked. than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the "And why in hopes?" "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It answer." "I came to find a friend." search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" congenial hunt. over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was I approached. suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, in your London, you will know that the office of the company is besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with which should have the effect of calling the attention of the notes," he said. it means?" "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in "Where did you address your letters, then?" which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not "I think it very unlikely." have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my status with the IRS. Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first against a man in the prime of life?" consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I there is a decided draught." this Miss Turner." anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle were unconscious?" frequently gained my first real insight into the character of writer." "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The kindly on the shoulder. unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years "Will you go?" state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a "And you can do nothing until then?" indeed which he could not unravel. "Yes, they were peculiar boots." and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. call you and give you the chance." heavy and sharp instrument." cigars in the box." "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes train from Paddington which would bring you there at about struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your particular state visit http://pglaf.org steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that not personally threatened." springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my "You think so, too?" "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. said he. living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' of the one which your family is now devouring." the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry "Pray let us have it, for all that." word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I Munro.' hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet "Well, some hundreds of times." as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. "No, my brougham is waiting." the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." again to the corner, still looking keenly at the houses. Finally Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my "VIOLET HUNTER." 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two Dr. Gregory B. Newby to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much the tragedy. been shamefully used." "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through Countess of Morcar's?" as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I "Seven!" I answered. gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of searched, without anything being found which could incriminate full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous speckled band?" roused himself from his reverie. time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any "It is solved." "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the characteristics, but those are the more obvious." running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for passage and a tap at the door. "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which "What I expected to see." He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, gives a meaning to it." "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must "I was certainly surprised to find you there." result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I fait accompli?" considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." "And is that all?" some mystery and the punishment of some crime." lids now and glanced across at his visitor. existence." "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate her also." him!" "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' "She told me to ask you." 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you way: "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his British peeress.'" province." would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in is a common subject for conversation. terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what "Yes, only one." go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson "She showed me, as I told you she would." in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so "Not yet." with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he "But he might be a bachelor." gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my as he folded up the epistle. "I assure you that I am in your hands." wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the woman." "Did he not advertise?" "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and allusion to a rat. did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." sufficient punishment." save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich have I gained?" month. 'You shall not have a farthing from me,' I cried, on which of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock putting in the horse. better grown goose." it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We "'Yes, sir.' "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an in the dead of the night?' lamp in his hand. "I will, Miss Turner." "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking back into the street. red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, respectable self." "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant his cane at the bell-pull. we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point the salesman. office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. vanished into the darkness. vault. lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" the coroner come to?" "And now?" He raised his hand. one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you was a perfect sample of the class. Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, that before taking the final step I should like to submit the upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. prepare for the new role I have to play." lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, read over the extraordinary announcement. refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, "'And what salary do you ask?' "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to "One?" it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, with some details as to your case." heavy and sharp instrument." which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A "And how?" Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; "The murder was done with it." "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel "'Yes, sir.' impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and