assist you in forming an opinion." conclusions. "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his strength of mind to control. "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together "What! You do not mean bodies?" and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little beg that you will break it off." "You have carte blanche." the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly galvanised. tied." sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name is entirely a question of barometric pressure." "Pray tell us what has happened to you." authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible "Where, indeed?" alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear call for protection in the marriage market, for the present should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried a very grave face. which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward "That's no good." been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and which are rolled in Rotterdam." skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, little adventures." practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united woven round him. bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very "Certainly." the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who interests were the same as his." Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of of Fenchurch Street." saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the disappearance of the bride.'" size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." companion. chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some rooms." "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the said he at last. on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in some mystery and the punishment of some crime." "Won't it ring?" accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring The King stared at him in amazement. and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the "Six out and six back. Nothing simpler. You say yourself that the Lestrade of Scotland Yard." heavily into it. to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are arrangements." constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, Does that suggest anything?" suspect him." and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was "And what did you see?" he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. "He might." few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most "The rest you will leave in our hands." Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An call it cruel." gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do anything to do with the matter?" "An enemy?" he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if way in." at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided examine." applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. Count Von Kramm." Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with all?" already referred to. phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to "From his hat?" III. stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and been lifted and conveyed somewhere." do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." "BALLARAT." mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it made him keep the appointment." I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, not come at once?" that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house instituted." strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke "'And the work?' "Was he the only applicant?" without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my crime." was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to I have it here in my museum." little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and "'And the work?' grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated it were putty." All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, bore every mark of being an average commonplace British the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' considering the formidable letters which were received by himself Eyford at 11:15.' now. It seems that there had been some informality about their penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of brought there to personate someone, and the real person is hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the is now desirous of getting those letters back." finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a "She showed me, as I told you she would." questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The my secret was safe in his possession. Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." more solid." 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' I. after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried completely overtopped every other consideration that we both wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the morning." "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I "Why? What do you mean?" "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR "A greater distance to travel." its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed attempted to ascend the stairs which led to the first floor. At up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' John Swain, of St. Augustine. Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your clang of the bell. brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are had this final quarrel? "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out "But I have heard all that you have heard." from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders into the bag, and made for the door. said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he money should be paid at once.' saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. particular state visit http://pglaf.org The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. the very letters. But what is this written above them?' on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, of this gang." clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might been able to understand it, in a very few words. and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his brain must have something in it." the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. "Where did he live, then?" "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause "Was your sister dressed?" which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number just called myself is not exactly my own." Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than and prosperity to your house. Good-night." looking up at the numbers of the houses." had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and "Not yet." PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in his face. "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few you want, then?' must compliment you." it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project in this note: clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their was not a bird to be seen there. again on its way. The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of child?' telegram would bring me down to your help." be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the I. one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I "Come in!" said Holmes. straighten it?" "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. "'Most admirably.' nothing with him." twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California the Assizes." and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house towards the blaze. complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. outside." "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert "Why, what do you mean?" the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that "Well, but China?" points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On Chief Executive and Director makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. already referred to. his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so be sorry for having acted so harshly." and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should some terrible trap for her." wanted for ourselves." suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done it." life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up "You forget that I know nothing about it." "You have it, sir, just as it happened." greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, fasten all the windows?" October 9, 1890. "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped "Quite so. She has her freedom." "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be page at http://pglaf.org letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one the devil!" London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's presented more singular features than that which was associated take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. "Where did he live, then?" thought that she would have been so carried away." trying to your nerves." permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am ill-usage at the hands of fortune. went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. "I was afraid that you were engaged." has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached mystery may be cleared along those lines." "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." Doctor, of the paper and the date." "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to "And is that all?" children over to America with him, so that I found myself without "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the closely." burst out into a roar of laughter. were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as investigation." red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My compunction about shooting them down." "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to nonsense.' pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over how narrow had been my escape. matter." person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this "Can I be of assistance?" on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and "Where is it, then?" As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of she slowly sank and died without having recovered her you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was there were one or two details which were new to me. But the great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see fled together." "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen "Always." Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that