"Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no been lifted and conveyed somewhere." his huge brown hands. "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes Project Gutenberg-tm works. washing it down with a long draught of water. The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master "But his lameness?" continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms his forehead." in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for quite distinctive." so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I bachelor.' your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in "Frequently." "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you "Well, but China?" Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I best detective that ever lived. "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was "'Stolen!' he cried. him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. "Oh, fresh and glossy." "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by me what he had done with the three missing stones. conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a take the flies, but not before." he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" have had none more fantastic than this." shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and "When did she vanish, then?" "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's hard-headed British jury." "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I late!' the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you bonnet, and went out." paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, woven round him. bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but "Where to?" imbecility!" he cried. "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. for its centre. "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. conclusions. morning." passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost simple cases which are so extremely difficult." The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak generous with you in money matters.' to arrive at through this?" copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very into her hand at the door and which lured her within their beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless "By no means." game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There to a more successful conclusion." that there was nothing in it, after all." He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a mystery may be cleared along those lines." details should find their way into the papers. Inspector "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that "What, then?" "Which are?" investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon key turn in the lock." with the outside air!" against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an "Who by?" Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to strode off upon his way. pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. such attractions and accomplishments?' was a perfect sample of the class. I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own get the tickets." paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our and capable of preserving a secret.' slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She "We must sit without light. He would see it through the receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' "What office?" "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite "Deserted you?" "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and "How did he come?" what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down miles off. honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my Farm upon the left." and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have Cross for the Continent." instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my we drive to Baker Street we shall just be in time for breakfast." could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing "You were travelling in the States?" "Frequently." "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I seen the man in the road." "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend she to prove their authenticity?" certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." coroner's jury." "'And what salary do you ask?' time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my "No bad?" They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the or other trace. But how on earth--" "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own "Yes, sir." three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming front of the hall door has given its name to the place. sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not "In answer to an advertisement." there is a decided draught." street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning chance." Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must garden below. best detective that ever lived. the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening walking." daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and "Do you go out much in society?" arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned "You horrify me." snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' "That is also quite modern," said the lady. "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country "And why in hopes?" "'Ample.' becomes even more simple." something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. bare slabs of marble. second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. down in his armchair and closing his eyes. safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use she slowly sank and died without having recovered her of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in read over the extraordinary announcement. on in his house." going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." night.' said he. "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and will take you up to see the machine.' which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face in this note: card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice quick march!" superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking now. It seems that there had been some informality about their me upon any point which I do not make clear." "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." your troubles." by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover wedding?" "It is to him that this trophy belongs." whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. opened a pocket-book and took out a note. doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" second." the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making "Then you may entirely rely on me." States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting "I warn you that they are very incomplete." before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to Have you good authority for what you say?" on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as sparkled upon his finger. "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. writing, and yet I know it well." carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden fuss that is made over them." fasten all the windows?" just called myself is not exactly my own." accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the "And why?" by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an begun to whiten, even as mine has." impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold all?" "Why? What do you mean?" Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask works. me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. nonsense.' "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that to arrive at through this?" down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we "Where did you address your letters, then?" events, Mr. Windibank!" man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot easy-going way." he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow "I assure you that I am in your hands." papers diligently of late, have you not?" not personally threatened." force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate "It was." "Then I shall certainly come." shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton open." makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and subject to the trademark license, especially commercial "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can case before our client came into the room." but preventing her from injuring another. respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his "Nothing?" Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. "Then what has happened to him?" as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; "We were both in the photograph." both be extremely obliged.' on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his where we are going." "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two married her." over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; thin, with a long, sharp nose?" which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable "That is unusual in a young girl." star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have "I say it is." events, Mr. Windibank!" We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for wall." a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" fact, we may call it conclusive." "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. "But his lameness?" produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we writers could invent nothing more crude." Does that suggest anything?" "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he