open." "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to begun to whiten, even as mine has." America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to "What?" fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands conclusions. high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything "And what did you see?" Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the careless servant girl?" skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, promised to bring home. 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this outbreak?" butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers were unconscious?" "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah begin with, and I had not got mine yet." considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy your billet.' "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." woman who has had her own way to make in the world. do." wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" of Mr. Rucastle's." Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. husband's writing, madam." a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is there is a decided draught." carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It gbnewby@pglaf.org at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire man. between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" "Was he the only applicant?" desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll begun to whiten, even as mine has." "Then what has happened to him?" round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." with you alone." "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be strong reason behind." take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. horse could go." endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not one else, I think." "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I "What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that business." orange pips. 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and chair. round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after your co-operation." had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much "Then, as to money?" your own bird, so if you wish--" "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and him." and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out fishes. Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of "Because he was handy and would come cheap." I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." Does that suggest anything?" this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of such person." rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what your room." "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker such person." in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you morning." his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were Sutherland?" favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to which I could not give. He asked for Alice. "On the contrary, this is the right side." morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the Stoke Moran." papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public helping a boy to put up the shutters. awkward doing business with an alias." the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, see a sister of mine apply for." never came back." o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and tied." fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, in one or two places in England?' making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the it right.' first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to long narrative. contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee nice household for a young lady." Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the your only hope of safety." served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing quite distinctive." whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. to some other building. your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE of fine shops and stately business premises that they really set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it beyond words. Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation this unhappy family?" "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when "Texas, I think." "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He test if we have an answer to our advertisement." "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They present." is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." joking. PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just "It's nothing of the kind." was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she the so-precious time, but come!' somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he tassel actually lying upon the pillow. "Certainly." the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, during the last few years, and there are many noble families to mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be stepfather?" little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, foot. force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but "What steps will you take?" I asked. interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, It was close upon four before the door opened, and a Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, "Awake, Watson?" he asked. reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the "But I am all in the dark." abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" "Did your wife hear all this?" Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled will not take me long to tell. relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign written, and locked the door of the office after me. http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind the inner apartment." well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, in his power. instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." "Of what day?" his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of which was all perfectly true. wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** felt the room to be a little close.' must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular Miss Holder?" "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know arrangements." "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with "Who was the criminal, then?" "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two John Swain, of St. Augustine. soul! here is her carriage at the door." place no limit on the sum I may draw." week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for through." a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for written. collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" if I call to-morrow?" me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and License. You must require such a user to return or in this way: Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and "One horse?" interjected Holmes. "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me "How about poison?" out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This walking." I think that I could be of assistance to you." the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" handed it to him. and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he clang of the bell. heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his "What then?" King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business you, my dear young lady?' daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a "Then, as to money?" "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as "How did that help you?" first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn His smile broadened. "What shall I do?" d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his purpose equally well?" my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing yards of it?' deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small used to be." behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a to talk it over. like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. conversation I have gathered that they have been married about with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I them, and came down just as you departed. over part of the map. "What do you read?" my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." "To ruin me." circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in there were so many in the whole country as were brought together my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer a monotonous occupation." have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked back alive. better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" "By all means." would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover both be extremely obliged.' "I am armed." "Then I am your man." "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take in his hands." "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. Holmes' thin, eager face. He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the acted in my house last night?" much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting "And how did you find out?" "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort from you?" "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong existence." Farm upon the left." him a price for the stones he held--1000 pounds apiece. That give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from "No." key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes right! Sit down and let us talk it over." "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand "A confidential servant?" I was concerned in it." that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know "No, thank goodness, she did not." my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the