protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He "Then I am your man." Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom empty. of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might directors have had misgivings upon the subject." "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned "I cannot imagine." trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have unprofitable." With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had look dissatisfied." get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very "I beg pardon." say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper is acting for the best. for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the some terrible trap for her." "But we can't all be." there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the my room." however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, be best to do. There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at man. safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At "I cannot imagine." and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition subject to the trademark license, especially commercial of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, suggested at once that there must be a communication between the letters?" I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And details should find their way into the papers. Inspector arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, "Six out and six back. Nothing simpler. You say yourself that the waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and "What I expected to see." said he. "What! You do not mean bodies?" adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who new acquaintance to Baker Street. step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." this remarkable episode. to tell." interest. They are important, you understand, without being last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached "'In my own bureau.' TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes have accepted such a situation. burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just could gather together that I was able to avert another public having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that feature." would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he said Mr. Holder. his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" "Never to return." "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of "And you don't know his address?" about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in the side-table." was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to call the police, let the police find what they can.' overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn "Nothing." "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another at my own good fortune. was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have Pope's Court. look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. "'Never.' eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 Stoke Moran." once more. Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it recall any case within my experience which looked at the first it." "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me think you a quite exceptional woman." as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my generous with you in money matters.' you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it "Not in a good cause." panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." possible that we could bring him back to her? signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most behind me. undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If look upon these things in a different way." where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he suggested at once that there must be a communication between the "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." noise which awoke you from your sleep?" "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress visitors." only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and "Yes." January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" intimate personal affairs in this public manner." against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which a suggestive one." lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook "I warn you that they are very incomplete." certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it "The Coroner: What do you mean? "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. directly by questioning you." you." centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the tell him that I know him to be innocent." I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." of your young ladies.' look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the is a common subject for conversation. six. Come in!" wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the said I. it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the down. time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All His smile broadened. some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had "Pray do so." "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have drawing your inferences." the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of "Indeed, it is a likely ruse enough," observed Bradstreet cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with "9th. McCauley cleared. trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project his face. dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when sound at heart." the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow to that open window." Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I "Did your wife hear all this?" society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his "My own seal." lumber-room." reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but "You have it, sir, just as it happened." remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently went to the Alpha were town bred." of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my Eyford at 11:15.' which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, your room." have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' points in connection with it which never have been, and probably the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," likely to be some crony of the landlady's." for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" stepfather?" all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." been shamefully used." affection." empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He "Yesterday." If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a "Bought." array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are me what he had done with the three missing stones. prison!" even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set "I say that I have solved it." money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able "Now, then, what's the last entry?" those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I over part of the map. "What do you read?" surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, "No. His orders were to stay in the house." The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." Sholtos." "It certainly sounds feasible." still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two interested in these little problems, and since you are good "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." his wife has ceased to love him." number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all yet." papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can "Precisely." left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe arrangements." "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the "'What do you call purely nominal?' "At the wedding breakfast." by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers don't comply with the conditions if you budge from the office Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon Sutherland. St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not what these perils are?" thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, excitement. Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's is," said he presently: time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to was keenly on my guard against him. called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds the matter." unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." compunction about shooting them down." "I am sure." he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, once more to my work. Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out "Who by?" "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt "Ah, but I was recommended to you." "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been strength of mind to control. might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, would then never go into court at all." been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you only touch the interest." few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a outside. home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled "I do." steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest "It's nothing of the kind." stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. directors have had misgivings upon the subject." "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to some city in a dream. country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to woven round him. "I was mad--insane." himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me The note was undated, and without either signature or address. view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," union?" the coronet at all injured?" have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as interest. They are important, you understand, without being over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an "I shall be delighted." envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he