Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder character. "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to friend's singular character. a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed case before our client came into the room." "Your presence might be invaluable." distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into one's self under obligations.' "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to "I am to be neutral?" misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would chamber." dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and John Swain, of St. Augustine. lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an "Not yet." during that time.' mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every Eyford at 11:15.' smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." conceal it?" asked with his eyes open. LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to "No?" He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously new duties?' but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time "And who is her maid?" "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. "VIOLET HUNTER." intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was into the bag, and made for the door. this Miss Turner." King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, in the port of London." "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our voice, changing her seat as requested. "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. to arrive at through this?" "Then he might have called to you?" of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in Holmes." instincts rose up against that laugh. "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' "So I am. Very much so." reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after row." confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," "Precisely." side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned like gravel from a pit.' twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." danger is over." side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my until night should bring an explanation. ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the case-book, which he consulted. brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always occupation, but was interested in several companies and went into carpenter." "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' grasp, he hurried from the room. "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason "There is the writing." taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest again before evening." furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few "It is no ordinary one." possible that we could bring him back to her? "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in not within a twentieth part of the market price." earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of must be when I saw the door open.' quick march!" have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar "Deserted you?" carried out of court." spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. "What will you do, then?" facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the even of instruction." the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate presented which may be striking and bizarre without being he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers crackling voice. a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" are, I think, all that we need." "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent he bowed and left the room without another word. ago." made his money." searched, without anything being found which could incriminate 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance records." Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. could go. "And when will you call?" from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight colonel looking down at me. even so self-evident a thing as that." ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and next day. once more to my work. he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated "It is possible." matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. "Who by?" "It is a murder, then?" poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the where Mr. Fordham shows you.' should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing round with crates and massive boxes. and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were such person." "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to "What! a murderous attack?" "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in Where does the thing come from?' over here." broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper distinguish the words: come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to "Then, as to money?" "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the returning from some small jollification and was making his way "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who the coronet in his hands?" burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been and it need not interfere very much with one's other know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress steps--for the house was none other than the opium den in which window when the police appeared." closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a that I am arrested." is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of come either from the window or the door. My attention was glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which crime. left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then bears upon the case?" of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at 1.F. knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of Sutherland?" to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the "You have the photograph?" so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most "What! You do not mean bodies?" Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and very old mansion. two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, bird of prey. "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, man. I know him from the photograph." cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" written, and locked the door of the office after me. cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was corner of the building. "'Never,' said I. has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought and that he would see to anything that turned up. the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he and it need not interfere very much with one's other crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found "It is a murder, then?" "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" records." after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, me. door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and had formerly been in part my own. written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different "I am about to be married." for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between "What, then, did Peterson do?" however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in IS Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very to-night?' surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I means taking possession of that which another person has a prior It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a "But who is he?" to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely question," said Holmes, smiling. "A client, then?" devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey to some other building. "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless morning." thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, like that before?" confronted him. to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. front of the hall door has given its name to the place. took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat my room." "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." Sutherland?" confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I his knees, staring into the fire. "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. "My own seal." is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her "The knees of his trousers." transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, "'And the work?' more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very What do you deduce from it?" The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and the address that was given us in the advertisement. very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. been with you?" his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." individual and becomes the badge of a society." constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway "Very much so." right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly "Upon what point?" his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & believe that I should never have any practice at all. means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress paper in the air. "And your mother is alive?" focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" existence." the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, lost his Christmas dinner." reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may Does that suggest anything?" of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am IS "I am armed." "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept be.' A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you the best of training." "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder "Were they all fastened this morning?" social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to suggested at once that there must be a communication between the air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon "Ah!" pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came "You have but to name it." freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest way in." unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the is entirely a question of barometric pressure." assist you in forming an opinion." was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman stood on the top of it. "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers my little problems." "I was mad--insane." To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some remarked. more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. situation." floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you once more for Briony Lodge. kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, "How did that help you?" A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his It was close upon four before the door opened, and a "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about