down in his armchair and closing his eyes. the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the several quiet little villages up there." "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his "It missed him, then?" permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they skylight. be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am leave you to your papers for a little." little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." http://gutenberg.net/license). Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong that he will be back before evening." coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there as yours." you in yours." his huge brown hands. late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help "'What then?' I asked. "And I." it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in said he. the inquest, and which are worth considering." out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as leaning back in his chair. the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening "I saw her in conversation with her maid." "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" never will be, entirely cleared up. have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to walking." back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen "None." a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the becomes even more simple." "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can do.' excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled felt the room to be a little close.' you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became him." grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." it." Where does the thing come from?' harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, as he remarks, very much against the son." one or two very singular points about this room. For example, side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she "And the cigar-holder?" room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the himself to hunt down. wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had "I warn you that they are very incomplete." Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was could not have written that. It is the German who is so and a shock of very red hair. stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the and a shock of very red hair. "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three "Now, then, what's the last entry?" woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He weigh very heavily upon my conscience." such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away "In San Francisco, a year ago." "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. tension within him. business matters.' "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's such attractions and accomplishments?' seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole away into the river." his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your singular points about the case. What did the police think of the Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every her also." Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing and the church but not where the lady lived." "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece "It may not come to that," said Holmes. more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's "No." from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the arms and began to sob in a high treble key. bell. Holmes whistled. that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I bled considerably." force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With "It is possible." its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and all-comprehensive glances. your troubles." forbidden door. imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should said I. in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A upon the sideboard." Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, he bowed and left the room without another word. of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too wedding?" married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, "Indeed! Whose, then?" seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should your most interesting statement." drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are then?" my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to "I cannot imagine." Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while him a price for the stones he held--1000 pounds apiece. That "His face fell immediately. give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of humiliation." handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and "'Ten to two.' some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted "No, I am descending." why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny "How on earth--" "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be "Texas, I think." London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. come either from the window or the door. My attention was "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a you in your example." provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which and laid it on the table. the very morning of the wedding." the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our simple cases which are so extremely difficult." have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own obstinate." demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I "That's no good." "'Not at all. I only doubt--' is a common subject for conversation. "I saw her in conversation with her maid." Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the a very grave face. "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather which was all perfectly true. coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I manager. whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you "And now?" I asked. instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love way: "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." of a light. evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you despaired of." "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, whether it answered to the description of any of their all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade "I cannot tell." end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched "Yes." not within a twentieth part of the market price." "That is also quite modern," said the lady. established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his mysterious end." Surrey." rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, because she had spent so short a time in this country that she "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the least a fellow-countryman. remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." distinguish the words: Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at young Openshaw's." "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of and all of them with the keenest interest. "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face "Yesterday." profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the Sholtos." "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." a few minutes he said that it would be all right. dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the to-night?" I asked. been lifted and conveyed somewhere." I shall continue with my miserable story. felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not quickly through a disagreeable task. and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. "And you thought he was pulled back?" data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now "That sounds a little paradoxical." to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing thin legs towards the fire. he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, "Oh, fresh and glossy." cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in "Yes." depend upon your compliance." luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault that you can jump it.' Lestrade of Scotland Yard." Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for sit on the left-hand side of the driver." Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the footfalls from the street. "Holmes, the busybody!" hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared throat." gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' "And how in the world did you find them?" characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story during which he might have communicated with his friend the hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. "No." is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs "It came here." important." the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you "And you don't know his address?" "Murdered?" accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his overpowering excitement and concern. common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, "'Entirely.' have had none more fantastic than this." coat-tails." settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my "About a month then." "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, throat." bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent "To the police?" round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of papers." she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the "And how did he make his money?" light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no "But it has twice been burgled." away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or as the one I chose?' thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not "Then what has happened to him?" - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in "Here?" pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, writers could invent nothing more crude." "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and "She will not sell." of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which "Yes, the wine-cellar." "I am armed." was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't particular state visit http://pglaf.org garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, "Very. But will he see it?" you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the "Which surely he restored to their owner?" "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if "And sit in the dark?" "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking me, and I could not think that his explanation of the clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a directors have had misgivings upon the subject." to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a "You know me, then?" then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: that There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than "In which, sir?" Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." and that he would see to anything that turned up. be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." troubles have been weighing upon his mind. higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' results." "One of the highest in England." "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. so.' protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a pound a week." where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all "Come in!" said he. red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have investigation." "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with "Which surely he restored to their owner?" computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman was a lad." About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of possible that we could bring him back to her? Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the