sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in "And now?" He raised his hand. "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of hair?' At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the affair. to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only to his chemical studies. learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an forebodings. everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began him and tried to hold him back. "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case vanished into the darkness. and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the "Very well, sir. And this stone?" at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything and shall probably return to London by the evening train." "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of emerged. gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to the coronet in his hands?" in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have "I cannot imagine." our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up "You horrify me." dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black "And leave your case unfinished?" very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of "'A dozen yards or so.' note?" have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. suspect him." "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes "Dark enough and sinister enough." with the outside air!" were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's "In the cells." suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year during which he might have communicated with his friend the office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then horse could go." "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been have been better. It is all right." "Yes." hour." conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she "We must sit without light. He would see it through the black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. way: computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two goes." "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put have one." the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, "It goes to the housekeeper's room." that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss suspect him." her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at asked. "And how did you find out?" "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." round and wave him away like that.' "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it closely." "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. "They are typewritten," I remarked. "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It "And now?" He raised his hand. "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger door?" better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall "How did that help you?" hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that "Get out!" said he. bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a figure." "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again Literary Archive Foundation "Not in a good cause." floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not "What can you not understand?" It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, get the tickets." envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." in a very precise fashion." her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There possible that we could bring him back to her? Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from head. So long, then!" the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old to some other building. more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax the warnings." the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the "How do you know, then?" I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, time." "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This washing it down with a long draught of water. you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became "That sounds a little paradoxical." "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to "To the police?" Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money "'What would be the hours?' I asked. himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each coffee, for I observe that you are shivering." why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your some place of shelter and let the county police know what has as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I make me his representative both with the servants and with the all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of examination of the premises, but without finding anything which nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before bird I ate is country bred." Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, papers must be those that are destroyed.' "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I secret." "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so "What do you make of that, Watson?" "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you straighten it?" do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To best detective that ever lived. you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was there were so many in the whole country as were brought together "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would persecution?" "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of "How about poison?" I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as rat could hardly pass through." "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me present." see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his opportunities to fix the problem. air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted and laid it on the table. Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who lids now and glanced across at his visitor. point in the dark hollow of his hand. edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she in him." terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked "What!" he roared. form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the that I can to serve you." humiliation." he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." "That's no good." the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day me. upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you desk. the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. must be when I saw the door open.' Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what photograph?" Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down "You'll never persuade me to believe that." "And I say east," said my patient. know what is wrong with it.' "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does stepfather?" ventilator." are, and they are waiting for us." "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe Holmes' thin, eager face. work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as think that he is innocent?" it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, that he will be back before evening." mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I "And why?" The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy "And that is--" was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story "Certainly, madam." it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. the child." expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that over part of the map. "What do you read?" tension within him. "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard galvanised. 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I woman who has had her own way to make in the world. warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their acquaintance?" seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the are windows in it, of course?" hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over returned, feeling very much easier. A horrible doubt came into my case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in "He is dead," cried several voices. ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, "And how in the world did you find them?" Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His horse could go." public press." "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his him, that man would not have given me such complete information the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has his cane at the bell-pull. young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid "Absolutely?" stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. pictures, libraries, or plate. own family. "I was sure that I might rely on you." I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. shall use the carriage to-night." attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a forebodings. LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE from you?" "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in upon a handsome competence. permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard that you can jump it.' occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my anything to a woman, for she would have her way." Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." allusion to a rat. the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his "Ten will be early enough." age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very "You have a clue?" had no one to advise her at such a crisis." stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of better in every way that they should make their position a little of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid mysterious end." "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all events, Mr. Windibank!" "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then annoyance, but no jest. The telegram which we eventually received came late one night the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or "In answer to an advertisement." sooner or later she must fall a victim. writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more promised to bring home. confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I McCarthy." to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if "Breckinridge is his name." opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady