in my life." "What do you mean?" impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his "That is unusual in a young girl." delirious. voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he held up the lantern and gazed about him. follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I at home. of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. purpose equally well?" never to learn it at all." of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the detective. "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously him." "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. "Witness: Nothing definite. I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that you came in." think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As "What! You do not mean bodies?" "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to cigars in the box." His name is Francis Prosper." would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss companion quietly. "He disappeared so suddenly." hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that "Stoke Moran?" said he. Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which "Then you may entirely rely on me." "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than time." her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the rose-bushes. "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases "None." "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you anything to do with the matter?" hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the only touch the interest." mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that was shining brightly. been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person "Will you go?" George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg "I should be immensely obliged to you." "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, "It is no ordinary one." whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp to some other building. "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. intimate personal affairs in this public manner." was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the presented which may be striking and bizarre without being "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as Sutherland. "What?" a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. one or two very singular points about this room. For example, It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper "I have seen the police." written. "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised in my life." and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and good for you to do.' seven miles from Eyford Station.' "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time "Yes, it was twisted." conceal it?" paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did "Entirely." and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news front of the hall door has given its name to the place. "Ha! you find it so?" dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, upon the sideboard." "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," Chief Executive and Director "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. arrested. You then--" "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with be.' case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which "Pray be precise as to details," said he. preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my "And how have you succeeded?" that, and I came down." "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding His name is Francis Prosper." for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull "Won't it ring?" "Then I do not see the point." them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: business matters.' Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a floor. the house with me." "I promise," said Holmes. perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to "It surprised me." "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a "Where, then, is my wife?" you for a few hours?" and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely written, and locked the door of the office after me. "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body What do you deduce from it?" adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father matters immensely." "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of individual and becomes the badge of a society." and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what "That is it on the dressing-table." Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. chambers. "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." "What! You do not mean bodies?" been able to understand it, in a very few words. he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign "But I am all in the dark." breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a could not have written that. It is the German who is so there is a decided draught." follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about the iron safe, which he closed upon it. "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting someone who had been in Australia." ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself arrested. You then--" possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't would then never go into court at all." wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, in him." My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the despair." was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and row." not as remarkable as your advertisement." stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any and the church but not where the lady lived." gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. ourselves in the office." I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. "Nothing?" was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small "My own seal." will not take me long to tell. own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." there in twenty minutes." confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, in. "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." "'Hampshire. Charming rural place. The Copper Beeches, five miles back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the "It is solved." "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" disappearance of these gems?" scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a go--none." habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." "And for present expenses?" to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address "Then how many are there?" awkward doing business with an alias." play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love ceremony." of a light. many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of "A greater distance to travel." which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the "I saw her in conversation with her maid." eavesdroppers?' "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' "'Most admirably.' The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of depend upon your compliance." "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a "Just look it up, then." "The vanishing of the lady." concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared chill to my heart. Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself only touch the interest." like that before?" along the entire front of the house, with three long windows electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well Farm upon the left." call the police, let the police find what they can.' man. "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to gigantic client. this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said to you." the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was shadow pass over his face as I spoke. benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was "Yes, I have one waiting." sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like persecution?" Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a good for you to do.' "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was brain must have something in it." "Witness: It was. green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good here." "I cannot tell." with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution Holmes' thin, eager face. "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and before, for it was considerably after midnight. A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the Surrey." the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom putting in the horse. and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your examination of the premises, but without finding anything which good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us said I. the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a of receipt of the work. hand, madam?" business in the City. She little knew what. retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful was a loud and authoritative tap. direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, "ARAT," I read. was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." "No sign of it?" registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had "I am all attention, madam." unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. "Frequently." Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back "Then you may entirely rely on me." do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your and capable of preserving a secret.' "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. for and were ordered to this address. "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked "Yesterday." "I am about to be married." plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and congenial hunt. feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest ordinary clothes on?" is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? know all about it," he snarled. "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey know all about it," he snarled.