distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work "BALLARAT." commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes "I am in hopes that she does." sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an careless servant girl?" "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside "How did you deduce the select?" so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney husband's writing, madam." and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had You want to know what became of those geese?" desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think father's place of business?" would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to was it brought him the coronet? American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring certainly do as you advise." disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out "'Not at all. I only doubt--' and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." since then to throw any light upon what became of him." "It's nothing of the kind." away to you." town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." over his head with a sweet womanly caress. butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, then! matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He developed." at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to Holmes." and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in papers diligently of late, have you not?" fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of forebodings. Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining and a shock of very red hair. About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions you do it in twenty minutes!' glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he here and I will read it to you: this poor creature." mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry page at http://pglaf.org me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my in a very precise fashion." smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say leaning back in his chair. "'A dozen yards or so.' neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded written, and locked the door of the office after me. had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you "Then the page we have seen--" five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of "'How far from the body?' "What are they?" "Has he come with you to-night?" wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite astonishment. "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges begun to whiten, even as mine has." shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with "'Ample.' "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." a room. of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, a suggestive one." have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the "And you don't know his address?" "I assure you that I am in your hands." him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private "That also I could fathom." snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" experiences." might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable are windows in it, of course?" and a shock of very red hair. few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in "I will try. What is it?" that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. than to us. quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since "No?" dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, questionable one." "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would to take care of herself." "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to thirty. brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just "What is the meaning of it all, Mr. Holmes?" do." do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the desk. "Yesterday." do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have nonsense.' over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." the armchair which I pushed forward for him. sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has you have a quick eye for colour. Never trust to general fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said "At the wedding breakfast." to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set chamber." explained, has got out of order, and we wish your advice upon the caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, who was a member of your goose club." were wasted." when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low "But you have hopes?" Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in foot. "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. been." to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened "I saw her in conversation with her maid." Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much believe that I should never have any practice at all. "None." woman." his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." results." a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear to-night?" I asked. dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really "He slept on the premises." individual and becomes the badge of a society." and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you "There is the writing." although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town opened the door, and slipped through. that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had made his money." American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without face and glided from the room. Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now coat-tails." "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future lids now and glanced across at his visitor. think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a swore that no one else had been in the front room during the "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for If you but make such reparation as is in your power, by telling think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a "It is half-past ten now." "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' persecution?" brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your other lovers by making love himself." It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very "She walked into the breakfast-room." who was a member of your goose club." princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. quite distinctive." "Nor running a chance of arrest?" facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so lost his Christmas dinner." wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon see me here to avoid scandal." he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as III. all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." arrested. You then--" suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but "You are certainly joking, Holmes." minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" fattened it expressly for you.' hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch and a shock of very red hair. for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. least a most suspicious remark." value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the indiscretion." "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how business?" shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been have established a very serious case against the son of the considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the waste of energy." Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he "Perhaps we may make them less so." contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. may never be exposed to such a temptation." "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small from the brougham. Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive have got?" quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any "What! a murderous attack?" copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may and files of the old papers, following the future career of every deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined infinite languor in his face. father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, people in all walks of life. get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice started for the Temple to see my husband. suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your gone. whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was "Married! When?" "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the sake, don't!" "And when will you call?" could not have written that. It is the German who is so playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for observed. "Yes?" had a long day." a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they chemical work which was so dear to him. upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped fled together." I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no "What is it?" "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this door?" "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. go back?" with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of "Her father is very rich?" bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by of your young ladies.' Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, that before taking the final step I should like to submit the of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is served to weaken the effect. Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind humiliation." garden below. was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in "What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But "What will you say?" approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his Pope's Court. the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. with you alone." o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two "But of what society?" some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" the address that was given us in the advertisement. police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can "No, my brougham is waiting." of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. the date of his supposed suicide." face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while Arthur Conan Doyle was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his our word." appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. directors, with the result that you have seen." the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. signal between you and your father? papers diligently of late, have you not?" that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with floor. robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" "How did you trace it, then?" take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards John Swain, of St. Augustine. in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case neither fascinating nor artistic." lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up "We must sit without light. He would see it through the "I saw her in conversation with her maid." drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" "Never." exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty hair?' waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a point in the dark hollow of his hand. place no limit on the sum I may draw." About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and I held the little printed slip to the light. ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking as this. Pray let me have the details." bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" hardly wander." in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I