He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of During two years I have had three consultations and one small act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the happened." twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked "No sign of it?" passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a "Oh, the cause is excellent!" Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. use an arc-and-compass breastpin." "Yesterday." It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the "Then how many are there?" "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then "My dear Holmes!" "Which surely he restored to their owner?" its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the in his hands." showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after "Ample." glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the anything to do with the matter?" impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and his forehead." morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a writing, and yet I know it well." would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." for securing the situation." "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here man. "That is not always so easy." difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a before, for it was considerably after midnight. return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a III. an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he other, as fresh and trim as possible. this Miss Turner." o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, yourselves in at night?" be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his "It was an hour's good drive." for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was companion. had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a it." "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray before, for it was considerably after midnight. where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was breakfast?" when you have done it." pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your "Not social, then?" and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you "And you can do nothing until then?" the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, "Well, it is a possible supposition." effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left will find little credit to be gained out of this case." near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp tail." of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest "I came to find a friend." heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my it. that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the Gutenberg-tm License. that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and "Awake, Watson?" he asked. other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of bears upon the case?" not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. "'What then?' I asked. The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" "It was a confession," I ejaculated. manager. him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses "You have a clue?" "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. John Swain, of St. Augustine. object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past miles off. Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to "The landlord of the Alpha." some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of "Who by?" flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few before, for it was considerably after midnight. Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the young Openshaw's." "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. served to weaken the effect. companion quietly. he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe companion. Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." "And I say east," said my patient. nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow "Of Friday, June 19th." my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' ventilator." I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the "No." shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few said he at last. slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in morning." I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as Stoke Moran." "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There served to weaken the effect. urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name village inn over there?" "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled next day. woman who has had her own way to make in the world. scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in "That you are never beaten." and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an than was visible to me." "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the "Here?" step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and himself to hunt down. all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both he died? William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in of the one which your family is now devouring." 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. "Certainly." feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty morning." "Not him." return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the "It is a murder, then?" have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to "I fear not." smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had with her." Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his married her." "You forget that I know nothing about it." his forehead." "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." wife's character?" very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would know what is wrong with it.' "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has leaning back in his chair. "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there "'Then let me do so?' accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell bird I ate is country bred." the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the if I call to-morrow?" "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. "But who is he?" your only hope of safety." we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon noble correspondent could be. rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son "Won't it ring?" stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the events, Mr. Windibank!" to-night?' "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they past. "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to "On your arm?" quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do "You don't mind breaking the law?" that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." see me here to avoid scandal." If you but make such reparation as is in your power, by telling to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of then?" should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him "I was sure that I might rely on you." Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a "'I shall certainly be there.' in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to of the one which your family is now devouring." stalked out of the room. "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for she to prove their authenticity?" this man was intellectual?" "But his left-handedness." "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a "I shall most certainly do so." you came in." rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" that before taking the final step I should like to submit the me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' be there in time for your coming." This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some Surrey." metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you "But the mystery?" "The Coroner: What do you mean? "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the "He slept on the premises." "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been face and glided from the room. "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided me upon any point which I do not make clear." said I. gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some "Of what day?" instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right wedding?" and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were "I beg pardon." "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. "'Yes, sir.' into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows "The gentleman I describe." have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters tell me that you intended to go into harness." to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of Gutenberg-tm License. King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in been able to understand it, in a very few words. that I may have something better before very many minutes are my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over "From his hat?" from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. "You were travelling in the States?" 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in "You horrify me." persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault The telegram which we eventually received came late one night clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the "Was your sister dressed?" and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand laugh and put his lips to my ear. to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical "Yes." "Could he throw no light?" The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my grasp, he hurried from the room. should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual hopeless attempt at recovering them." through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I stalked out of the room. just called myself is not exactly my own." running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I of the efforts of the United States government and of the better However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are husband's writing, madam." present strange and interesting features that it is no easy a room. touch that coronet?' heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. "Then I am your man." purpose of examination. hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. "If I can be of use." "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly sofa. This way, please!" its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted "And the cigar-holder?" "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I wanted for ourselves." business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. "I came to find a friend." been shamefully used." copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into answer." interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have appeared upon the scene." the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him "Dark enough and sinister enough." perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room she has been waylaid. There has been no result."