little trying to do so much typewriting?" "You have the photograph?" general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' "The murder was done with it." smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can province." correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property never will be, entirely cleared up. "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, indeed happy." set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, 11:15.' that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to even of instruction." compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime "Yes." clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There "I do." so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't was a loud and authoritative tap. salesman. possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police affection." ago." asked. bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You were unconscious?" works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and when you have done it." "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! of your young ladies.' "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing following enigmatical notices: fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great sofa. This way, please!" "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a were unconscious?" bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my "How long did she speak to this Alice?" pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all "Then what has happened to him?" "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. hardly wander." "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque "My dear Holmes!" you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem down in his armchair and closing his eyes. Holmes' room. exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, room had already been engaged for us. house for five minutes.' the one as in the other." sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the been lifted and conveyed somewhere." tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we "I should wish to." stammered. "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." the Assizes." "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring "Will you bet, then?" were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more "'Ten to two.' intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, way in everything. "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, you." "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, chemical work which was so dear to him. The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others "Absolutely?" "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in instituted." either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A wedding?" essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards "I will get her to show me." might have a private word with us. about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step asked. shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the "'Certainly not.' door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's to-night?" I asked. "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window name is different." success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the ceremony." James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his of his shoulders. "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. whole matter to your consideration." subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the "One of his hands." vague figure huddled up in the darkness. "I see many objections to any such theory." rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a the bottom.' "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes writing, and yet I know it well." her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice "No, I had a dozen." other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and I was concerned in it." "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never It may be so in this case, also." quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you "I am all attention, madam." approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his "Not social, then?" "'Very good.' glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation and it need not interfere very much with one's other "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think "'No, I know no one in these parts.' Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm companion. go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. introspective fashion. "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as the warnings." the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive nice household for a young lady." paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant "And what then?" "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project "Yes, from Horsham." awkward doing business with an alias." into the bag, and made for the door. have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed "Was the window open?" can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, "'I have already given you my word.' looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly "Well." "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one locked." open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before words came to my lips. when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of "And how have you succeeded?" like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds "It goes to the housekeeper's room." over here." grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the "How did he come?" days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the "Where did he live, then?" fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy leave you to your papers for a little." fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and the tragedy. he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence "You heard nothing yourself last night?" some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in "Not in a good cause." of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a "And leave your case unfinished?" "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover considering the formidable letters which were received by himself "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias explained, has got out of order, and we wish your advice upon the has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim politicians who had been sent down from the North. "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your done what I asked you, Jones?" money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he ordered fresh rashers and eggs, and joined us in a hearty meal. heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. affair. present strange and interesting features that it is no easy "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a Eyford." belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who II. has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently asked. after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the keep the flames under. There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a bill, which interests me deeply." buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common "Why did you pick him?" name is different." alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen "Yes." in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his to his chemical studies. with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet the window, rose as we entered. fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and written, and locked the door of the office after me. "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so floor. in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we "And why in hopes?" look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, call for it in person on Monday morning.' copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative of them has the shutters up.' violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did "Who by?" yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet "Holmes, the busybody!" only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save any." and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you "You horrify me!" doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." to take care of herself." a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of respectable self." "You forget that I know nothing about it." receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of useful material for showing traces. The double line a little persecution?" A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup remarked. Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without "Proceed, then." which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was "And how did you verify them?" "The vanishing of the lady." "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the this as likely?" plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know "And help." secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. Countess of Morcar's?" would then never go into court at all." down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend "Absolutely none." scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be all that?" at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching there in twenty minutes." thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, "'Where could I find him?' lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of "My opinion is in no way altered." She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately character. and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that strength." all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his were wasted." Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look promised to bring home. from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted the driver. "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand "'Ample.' "Pray tell us what has happened to you." And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may you found me to-night--and running through the front room she "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London "'I am sure that I do not know.' "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass for the market.' skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I morning." "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years been anything against him. He had for years been known as a that threaten you." hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the present." "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." "Breckinridge is his name." "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong