he bowed and left the room without another word. was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. geese which you supplied to the Alpha." planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream the coronet in his hand?" one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and ever seen that her temper was just a little sharp. The incident object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a "We were both in the photograph." beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So "Upon what point?" He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his "Where to?" the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. fire. You quite follow me?" use an arc-and-compass breastpin." and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, of them has the shutters up.' been deceived." which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" "It was." gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across words came to my lips. to-night." on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that province." is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the "No, I had a dozen." "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any clanging. "Do you go out much in society?" Serpentine Avenue. was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father enter Dr. Roylott's room." and glanced through. used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told voice. find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for later, upon the night of May 2nd." out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely spare." Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but and that he would see to anything that turned up. ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth is four-and-twenty." passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of developed." at once, for I have only half an hour." into the bag, and made for the door. vague figure huddled up in the darkness. "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since is a common subject for conversation. and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again the matter?" "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's "But you were on a friendly footing?" was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and "But you have hopes?" "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two 1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have "9th. McCauley cleared. moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could indiscretion." result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little where she found matters as described by the last witness. "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a "I am all attention, madam." purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards "A client, then?" the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on remarked. air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was sneer upon his pale face. "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made Countess of Morcar's?" than was visible to me." at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss that you saw all that I did." "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need way: with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the I shall communicate with you." feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." "You saw the ventilator, too?" come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and second." determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be The note was undated, and without either signature or address. for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" "Dark enough and sinister enough." explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small out." tapping his fingers upon the table. LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five "Of what?" "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The seem to you to be relevant or not." was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. the very letters. But what is this written above them?' buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, events than those which have happened in my own family." dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout an introduction to him?" be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may "Very much so." 11:15.' clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white ourselves in the office." unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" "It is possible." until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of to-night?" I asked. station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of "And your mother is alive?" latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for "It was." professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & "One?" orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my note?" "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything child?' "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not DAMAGE. will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came "And that is--" planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' developed." may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond "Not in the least." incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." "I don't believe it." black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated be there in time for your coming." sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he much for me. I'm not rich, but still I have a hundred a year in caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" Project Gutenberg-tm works. large a sum as a hundred a year, with what you earn into the both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael all-comprehensive glances. extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend "He said that you could solve anything." "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran public press." very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, train from Paddington which would bring you there at about in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to this unhappy family?" would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I that I am arrested." "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to of a light. into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out ourselves in the office." took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a results." everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began with some details as to your case." "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of may have an influence upon European history." business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining to me. I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up as the one I chose?' "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had had formerly been in part my own. and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. will not take me long to tell. "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside undoubtedly my uncle's." be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. his knees, staring into the fire. "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have "I don't believe it." For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at "I have seen the police." "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found is," said he presently: the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial your room." a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had train.' gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor had picked up in the wood. all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and the date of his supposed suicide." should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. official police." "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that annoyance, but no jest. laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and "Murdered?" "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the copied or distributed: It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from we drive to Baker Street we shall just be in time for breakfast." long narrative. "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." "What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. way: important." along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the God! What an exposure! What can I do?" I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of what do you think they found in the pockets?" and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." photograph?" Countess of Morcar's?" woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she "Yes, only one." business came to an end." then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid Foundation wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an "Dirty?" the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then "How did you deduce the select?" clanging. The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual "And how have you succeeded?" American. Then who could this American be, and why should he him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly asked. Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. back to my heart. at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope "On the contrary, this is the right side." hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO "'It is locked up,' I answered. light and attacked it." beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid you understand?" address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and quite distinctive." completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you four million human beings all jostling each other within the down. "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating weary and pale-looking. I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to so far?" "And now?" He raised his hand. if I call to-morrow?" would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years mysterious end." enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been all?" to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we assist you in forming an opinion." from the cellar, "I do not know how the bank can thank you or "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of of receipt of the work. and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the bell. Holmes whistled. and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, at my remark. where Mr. Fordham shows you.' state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut "The Coroner: What do you mean? jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he crime." depend upon my doing so.' strode off upon his way. visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how "To the police?" the morning and make my own way in the world.' "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the questionable one." "By all means." dead, shall be safe with us." "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits. the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be nonsense.' begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from considering the formidable letters which were received by himself "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be back into the street. endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his "I will do it." really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly "Perhaps we may make them less so." sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. "Do you know him?" former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a was shining brightly. the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and outside. the very morning of the wedding." gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I figure." layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at American. Then who could this American be, and why should he between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and main points of my analysis." and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, allusion to a rat. my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned information in his hands the value of which he did not himself to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in floor. "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this "'What then?' I asked. particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his it." the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" thought that she would have been so carried away." populous neighbourhood." weighed down with some great anxiety. but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull him, that man would not have given me such complete information he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy as noiselessly as she had come. explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, murdered man." "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. it with his own hands." many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns I nodded to show that I had heard. had died away into the silence from which it rose. very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from was a loud and authoritative tap. future lives." success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to them?" than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular "And how in the world did you find them?" however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out "A client, then?" "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of "By train from Waterloo." over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew "Yes, all." even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at cigars in their mouths. as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other them?" that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do meant it for the best. formed some opinion?" III. receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy writers could invent nothing more crude." "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in