such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, "By train from Waterloo." that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. case before our client came into the room." be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." legal crime." suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect second window is the one that I jumped from." whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and figure." companion. "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even "What can it mean?" I gasped. enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We "'Which dealer's?' the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door posted to-day." abroad, and he has been in failing health for some time. This just ask you whether you had heard it.' Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this fuss that is made over them." matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of criminal. We have already had experience of such." January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is is four-and-twenty." murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real threw himself down with his face to the pillow. "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project possible that we could bring him back to her? dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no were unconscious?" My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free kindly on the shoulder. fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me What do you deduce from it?" doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them "But she will refuse." little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no she used." informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without "Who was the criminal, then?" said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and "Where is it, then?" reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as felt the room to be a little close.' without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, "'Where to?' judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that completely overtopped every other consideration that we both reach." On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I yards of it?' a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that fluttered off among the others. they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. formed some opinion?" or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send "Then you may be so with me." once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if "You don't mind breaking the law?" edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban remarked. carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to whatever might befall. play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? sooner or later she must fall a victim. like that before?" police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune fluttered off among the others. sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of "Was he the only applicant?" convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, "Well, it is a possible supposition." use an arc-and-compass breastpin." "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. "Oh, fresh and glossy." my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A "'Quite sure, dad.' "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as to-night." "One of the highest in England." "It looks newer than the other things?" villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy "But how?" case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the bare slabs of marble. I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our your troubles." "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged wedding?" shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not and I shall be with you presently." my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind wanted for ourselves." "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' "But she could not love him." he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, http://www.gutenberg.net you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her certainly do as you advise." word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door "Seven!" I answered. 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my be.' "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked beg that you will break it off." and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" meant it for the best. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a "So I am. Very much so." are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how peculiar to him. observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a shoulder. her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, held up the lantern and gazed about him. the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for relief. her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. is worth.' invisible to me," I remarked. that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the deduce something from that?" wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite explained, has got out of order, and we wish your advice upon the one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent "'Never.' The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great derbies." the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without kindly on the shoulder. ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped congratulate you again." Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to that I can to serve you." trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and been with you?" prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," "And how have you succeeded?" more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering acquaintance?" Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" "Ten will be early enough." hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet case before our client came into the room." completely overtopped every other consideration that we both Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. lamp in his hand. continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them "And from a noble client?" an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, crackling voice. might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it without success. At last the little money which I had saved began would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. least a most suspicious remark." weighed down with some great anxiety. "Won't it ring?" "And what did you see?" parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I through." flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his strength of mind to control. all-comprehensive glances. hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have Mary, has deserted me." money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the presented which may be striking and bizarre without being "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since new acquaintance to Baker Street. test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. leaning back in his chair. sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." make me his representative both with the servants and with the of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you some terrible trap for her." He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, DAMAGE. in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered had this final quarrel? very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his "But his lameness?" quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR undoubtedly my uncle's." name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to arrested. You then--" "Come in!" said he. staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. and capable of preserving a secret.' of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I James Windibank. Voilà tout!" woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, voice. Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of during the last few years, and there are many noble families to "You heard nothing yourself last night?" in darkness. second window is the one that I jumped from." lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built the room while you explain this matter?" been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and "Yes, sir." to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as "No, distinctly professional." time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an to where he stood hid behind the curtain. but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility me upon any point which I do not make clear." instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now him and tried to hold him back. goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture an introduction to him?" "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before "Why did you pick him?" fuss that is made over them." kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The completely overtopped every other consideration that we both my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You I was concerned in it." vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in "Where is it, then?" the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to such attractions and accomplishments?' a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the forecastle of an emigrant ship. I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor then?" has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the and inquire as to the address." "Seven!" I answered. colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off "Yes, that is the Crown." "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me felt?" breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant Arthur Conan Doyle a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard http://www.gutenberg.net have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. "And I say east," said my patient. at my remark. creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. this truth that in these little records of our cases which you seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United "The knees of his trousers." "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. "Stolen, then." centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke over his head with a sweet womanly caress. 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor floor. useful material for showing traces. The double line a little surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." will find little credit to be gained out of this case." "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my tightly behind him. my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A "I have a cab outside." Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George "'As governess?' "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong "I would pay ten." you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! "The Cedars?" "Only as much as we can deduce." peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, voice, changing her seat as requested. "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in furiously. that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as more solid." "Always." individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are of the vacancies.' once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this the very morning of the wedding." dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I copied or distributed: