little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the "Was there a secret marriage?" "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She "Who by?" intrusion of other matters." The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater recall any case within my experience which looked at the first Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone Holmes rather sternly. come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking most important business. It is probable that he will be away all him." room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the "And now?" He raised his hand. Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties ways including including checks, online payments and credit card views." story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was kindly on the shoulder. searched, without anything being found which could incriminate "That is not always so easy." de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the unprofitable." "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" he. License. You must require such a user to return or collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than bears upon the case?" all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." lamp. "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing tassel actually lying upon the pillow. quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press locked. it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second gentleman's clothes. "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." "Why did you beat the pavement?" answered with a sidelong glance. on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates ago." this as likely?" shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him dead, shall be safe with us." to-night?' pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from "That is not always so easy." as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may me have 200 pounds?' that before taking the final step I should like to submit the "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself "No, thank goodness, she did not." unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to father's young wife. the general public were present, then?" them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or "Then, how do you know?" rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and "And how did you verify them?" mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped crackling voice. pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue outside. "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found "Yes, sir." accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in abroad, and he has been in failing health for some time. This now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly giving me time to thank him. stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to newspaper selections." Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," troubles have been weighing upon his mind. generous with you in money matters.' "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. one or two very singular points about this room. For example, of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the the warnings." which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. whether it answered to the description of any of their his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless morning." straightened it out again. it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon "How many? I don't know." "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and "What do you mean?" bears upon the case?" "Not yet." "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." "In answer to an advertisement." "Perhaps I have." had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner not fit the lock." south, for the country is more deserted there." "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It place no limit on the sum I may draw." "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now likely to be some crony of the landlady's." endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right paper in the air. and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't look upon these things in a different way." "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow in the port of London." enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't families. Now for the facts. ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon as this. Pray let me have the details." you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? showing my impatience. red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all What do you deduce from it?" jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my "I promise," said Holmes. few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by "Was the window open?" fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's may have an influence upon European history." "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with desk. "Nearly eleven." "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make "I am armed." "'In my own bureau.' wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with best detective that ever lived. said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left must compliment you." "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." trying to your nerves." "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident children over to America with him, so that I found myself without matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window pressing in one house as in another. earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all empty. He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he few hundred pounds.' good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his "I cannot as yet see any connection." strength in the others." She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the during the last few years, and there are many noble families to as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate ordinary clothes on?" desk. wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very me. You must get home instantly and act." "To an English lawyer named Norton." clanging. you in your example." happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were Gutenberg-tm License. so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save unprecedented a position." As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. she has been waylaid. There has been no result." "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very "No, thank goodness, she did not." yards of it?' to tell." "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two beg that you will break it off." slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading helping a boy to put up the shutters. has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim together. Holmes rather sternly. The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love remarked. developed." "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms pressing in one house as in another. lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who tapping his fingers upon the table. same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a chemical work which was so dear to him. my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of charge against him will break down." The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where *** START: FULL LICENSE *** during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were followed. "To ruin me." They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this now. It seems that there had been some informality about their guilty one." my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying "Has he come with you to-night?" fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the fashion which was peculiar to him. useful material for showing traces. The double line a little "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, key turn in the lock." or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the do.' very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to article?" with you?" XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you said he. reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have "Yes, that is the Crown." you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out Gutenberg-tm License. salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All himself to tell his story. accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make be.' bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now "It may not come to that," said Holmes. front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to placed his cuttings. I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat in your London, you will know that the office of the company is much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed "Yes, all." you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this and laid it on the table. accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her redistribution. "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to triumphant cloud from his cigarette. "How many? I don't know." "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards secret." very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my and wait." "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached your most interesting statement." "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton "And you can do nothing until then?" ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To "I answered that I had not. laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began note?" arrangements." "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at hereditary King of Bohemia." large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. cigars in their mouths. Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." and I shall be with you presently." weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing carriage. It was a chestnut." stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master "That is possible." "She will not sell." hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. "Quite so." overpowering excitement and concern. filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few friend's singular character. could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or "Now, then, what's the last entry?" saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly Does that suggest anything?" hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." geese which you supplied to the Alpha." for and were ordered to this address. America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again place, I think that there is good ground to think that the is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I "VIOLET HUNTER." "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I take the flies, but not before." room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." page at http://pglaf.org "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off "'And the work?' the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. his forehead." eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, You want to know what became of those geese?" friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than some mystery and the punishment of some crime." were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house "At what time?" right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally a very grave face. lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a