It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." "Not yet." and the whole place is in a blaze." which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just drove away. "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of together. "Yes?" he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the instituted." cheerful." "Then he might have called to you?" had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded views." his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious "By no means." possible that we could bring him back to her? "'And the work?' I have it here in my museum." 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" sufficient punishment." murdered man." "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man nights." grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a "One of his hands." and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It the stable lane now." behind me. "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up London for the present?" "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a to that open window." in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get "'Certainly not.' morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His then?" was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being hardly wander." produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have the night.' cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of rooms." "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either I shall continue with my miserable story. "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered in the dead of the night?' only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search "Thank you. Pray proceed." be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some "Was your sister dressed?" "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us business in the City. She little knew what. yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with front of the hall door has given its name to the place. And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you month. 'You shall not have a farthing from me,' I cried, on which "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I "But who is he?" evidence," I remarked. been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the "Yes, he did." "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me one else, I think." "Now, then, what's the last entry?" America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by with the outside air!" should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of during that time.' of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running considering the formidable letters which were received by himself present strange and interesting features that it is no easy "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, "My dear Holmes!" "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy burst into a hearty fit of laughter. learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some the window, rose as we entered. "Why? What do you mean?" it." smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and imbecility!" he cried. conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up off." passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned ever seen that her temper was just a little sharp. The incident shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of "And how did he make his money?" and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing examination of the premises, but without finding anything which cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the corner of the building. "Of Friday, June 19th." strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived "No good news?" him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after "Yes." did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his his wife has ceased to love him." lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his "What steps will you take?" I asked. a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should October 9, 1890. "'Tell me all about it,' said I. Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to father's place of business?" A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get of this gang." "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he sentimental considerations in the background which would induce through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his followed. "Married! When?" was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He been anything against him. He had for years been known as a "So I heard. You have him here?" deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building ways including including checks, online payments and credit card "But how?" his knees, staring into the fire. We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of colonel looking down at me. yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been "I say that I have solved it." "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, "Who was the criminal, then?" against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for the coronet at all injured?" King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the for and were ordered to this address. princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, is four-and-twenty." knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. rose-bushes. Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss "Frequently." "'What then?' I asked. "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend "What do you mean?" loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the was feeling which was the fattest.' fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would we went to search for him, face downward in a little Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly was lame." his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that arrangements." "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, "He said that you could solve anything." This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any families. Now for the facts. "I cannot as yet see any connection." warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, I think that I could be of assistance to you." "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of to that open window." was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your how narrow had been my escape. what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, "Not social, then?" his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation other, as fresh and trim as possible. was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than status with the IRS. "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, me what he had done with the three missing stones. felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this like gravel from a pit.' the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, your own bird, so if you wish--" the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United showing my impatience. family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing "And you thought he was pulled back?" "Has he come with you to-night?" "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." strange features which were associated with the two crimes which "And you thought he was pulled back?" rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of affection." less than 26s. 4d. "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built knowledge of the world." Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the "And did you observe any change in her then?" tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her intrusion of other matters." "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." "I cannot as yet see any connection." rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. hardly wander." been with you?" be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked may never be exposed to such a temptation." the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and "But what harm can there be in that?" room. streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. "And sit in the dark?" the inner apartment." pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, "I have solved it." "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have neither fascinating nor artistic." and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be look dissatisfied." by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is followed. eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He "Then you may entirely rely on me." wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I "No?" there!' business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the considering the formidable letters which were received by himself beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. answered with a sidelong glance. "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson The note was undated, and without either signature or address. fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a "Then the page we have seen--" her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice "Precisely so. But how--" and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the to tackle the facts." stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and there is a decided draught." "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. Surrey." eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is I held the little printed slip to the light. advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill in the dead of the night?' "And your mother is alive?" reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could to take care of herself." known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it pound a week." this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face on re-entering her father's house?" "Pray continue your narrative." ashen face. you understand?" "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than to me. "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a your only hope of safety." full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did "My Mary? Impossible!" see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first "Of Friday, June 19th." My friend smiled. roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges "But I am all in the dark." to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing to affect your life." "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he copied or distributed: You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and there are those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' "Really! You surprise me." vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A Miss Holder?" who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked o'clock is it?" exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. "Game for a morning drive?" that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a infinite languor in his face. distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael