Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland in darkness. and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. "I came to find a friend." glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in "What have you done?" asked Holmes. the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his front of me. feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal "No." "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after "Bought." he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. Does that suggest anything?" told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do developed." "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I tapping his fingers upon the table. The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son States. gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than any more." "So I have heard." than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a mysterious business." who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are to have that photograph." zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the be. hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will village inn over there?" "How did that help you?" "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the any more." about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the fatally injured? waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. coat-tails." "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to of campaign. the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and His smile broadened. "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the locked." may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little opened the door, and slipped through. my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some lamp in his hand. merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, a good hundred miles off by now." waste of energy." has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were to affect your life." "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out not as remarkable as your advertisement." through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he "And what then?" "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You "She showed me, as I told you she would." "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, "It is true that I have been generally successful." His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have "Tired-looking or fresh?" graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would attempted to ascend the stairs which led to the first floor. At been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer Dr. Gregory B. Newby the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional "Not social, then?" are, I think, all that we need." "Yes." "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main minor matters until to-morrow." "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat ventilator." though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, "No, my brougham is waiting." "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is off." "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to "I see many objections to any such theory." it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I to affect your life." across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of of them has the shutters up.' out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and promised to bring home. rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like the Friday. Was it to be in church?" "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray "A thing like a cleaver," said he. in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I formed some opinion?" grasp, he hurried from the room. closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing My friend smiled. wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My room?" "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is begin with, and I had not got mine yet." At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout rose-bushes. the King without delay." we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The the general public were present, then?" "And what then?" The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the Dr. Gregory B. Newby in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to carpenter." - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," you." round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things above the wrist, where the typewritist presses against the table, "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a friends, not even his own brother. (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without "'You doubt its value?' he asked. affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way. I last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" upon the sideboard." returned, feeling very much easier. A horrible doubt came into my his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in "I have hopes." have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as "What have you to say now?" WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you during which he might have communicated with his friend the these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement "But how could you guess what the motive was?" the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, writers could invent nothing more crude." the armchair which I pushed forward for him. "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, awkward doing business with an alias." comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was narrative." going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the "But she could not love him." "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks "Was she in good spirits?" colonel looking down at me. pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure meant it for the best. everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and her also." I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point do you make of it all?" down in his armchair and closing his eyes. charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." "BALLARAT." like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some "To an end?" while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt where Mr. Fordham shows you.' would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism light and attacked it." zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are "Pray be precise as to details," said he. "Were they all fastened this morning?" status with the IRS. acquaintance?" he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much "Yes." aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if "And how did he make his money?" agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then "'Yes.' vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was http://www.gutenberg.net trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, cigar and let me expound." "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a "And is that all?" and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. will find little credit to be gained out of this case." you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has the stones. chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his threw himself down with his face to the pillow. of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit both be extremely obliged.' "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, "You have compromised yourself seriously." evidence," I remarked. during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to started for the Temple to see my husband. have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, was not a bird to be seen there. "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." "Then the page we have seen--" dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, "And the murderer?" "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. were new raised from a basin. could not have written that. It is the German who is so "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came "No good news?" whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey looking up at the numbers of the houses." slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard conclusions. "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions investigation." few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser obstinate." "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave she slowly sank and died without having recovered her "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our "And I to find an enemy." "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am McCarthy." man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, papers on the sundial.'" Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear in the port of London." subduing in the sudden gloom, and in the cold dank air of the has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, "How did he come?" "'Is purely nominal.' want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note posted to-day." house for five minutes.' nights." silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. not as remarkable as your advertisement." in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' Holmes rather sternly. put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as in this way: introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" a suggestive one." were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb Literary Archive Foundation "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding