remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so presented which may be striking and bizarre without being "I shall be delighted." "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." presented more singular features than that which was associated where we are going." disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary the south-west, I see." chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here south, for the country is more deserted there." trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. this truth that in these little records of our cases which you age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." "From his hat?" sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his important." interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social "What do you mean?" out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to the ceiling. form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback "The best possible." should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had into the bag, and made for the door. Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the memory. Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we "You saw the ventilator, too?" "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his "It's nothing of the kind." "You'll never persuade me to believe that." held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel "That sounds a little paradoxical." and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; possible that we could bring him back to her? "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew husband's writing, madam." cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old Have you good authority for what you say?" A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it "'And the work?' he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I "To the police?" his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life "Yes, sir." up this clue while it is still hot." Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the clanging. will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite sentimental considerations in the background which would induce "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, families. Now for the facts. as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long murdered man." money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his Leave Paddington by the 11:15." he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous unprofitable." "That's no good." "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." closely." impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon head. So long, then!" upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." becomes even more simple." secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A your billet.' I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward "Well." works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business a little more before I quite committed myself. room. Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and "This photograph!" "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the I approached. him to go away.' point in the dark hollow of his hand. overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared of note-paper. It read in this fashion: Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most "And you can do nothing until then?" master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. are, and they are waiting for us." day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, "Why serious?" "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner ways of our fellow-men." left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing "We were both in the photograph." come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and "One?" once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for "It is half-past ten now." anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight were wasted." done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to hand, madam?" blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of is acting for the best. had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable details." of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the salesman. very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's "Did you observe the colour?" meant." "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no his huge brown hands. Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between "Never to return." "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. "But how?" could gather together that I was able to avert another public arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." stalked out of the room. silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face daring than any effort of the imagination." "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, question. vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady The telegram which we eventually received came late one night Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up "Absolutely none." jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, "No more words. Get out!" Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered "'I have heard so.' "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the forebodings. down in his armchair and closing his eyes. him." the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever really the only notable feature about the thing." skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of congenial hunt. up this clue while it is still hot." have established a very serious case against the son of the disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous soul! here is her carriage at the door." shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this "But how did you gain them?" "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the over his head with a sweet womanly caress. him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the page at http://pglaf.org absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a seem to you to be relevant or not." "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the late." "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" conversation I have gathered that they have been married about lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me someone who had been in Australia." "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when disappearance of the bride.'" "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard "It may not come to that," said Holmes. and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and "He said that you could solve anything." first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and "Pray tell us what has happened to you." "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front despair." to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us "And the murderer?" occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on dates and names. Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then opened a pocket-book and took out a note. end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I the dangers which encompass me." have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would "'You doubt its value?' he asked. "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter outside. trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and What do you deduce from it?" "Then I can wait in the next room." drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some be. this remarkable episode. simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, hour?' determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to "Bought." You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and there are and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting populous neighbourhood." the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose written, and locked the door of the office after me. him a price for the stones he held--1000 pounds apiece. That down in his armchair and closing his eyes. young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was "I have solved it." strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project papers diligently of late, have you not?" room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. your room." father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him attention." to a more successful conclusion." "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I remarked. police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of fire. You quite follow me?" Holmes rather sternly. roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very to his chemical studies. congratulate you again." already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow characteristics, but those are the more obvious." "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." he. photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, "I cannot tell." from you?" more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have just called myself is not exactly my own." "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of of them has the shutters up.' her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" he died? foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here easy-going way." this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler you give your casting vote to?" "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the to me. pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria was it brought him the coronet? my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save when you have done it." 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, bedroom door." sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving What do you deduce from it?" 1.F. "By no means." what I may call a really hard day's work." "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of "Was your sister dressed?" home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right already been minutely examined." Holmes' thin, eager face. to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper "Precisely." All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right