should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid always that they were such commands as a lady might with thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view "The Coroner: What do you mean? wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." "He said too much." remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" possible that we could bring him back to her? "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a that he will be back before evening." the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. invisible to me," I remarked. "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits. calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which "Then the page we have seen--" already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father "None. Neville wrote those words." ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate be best to do. year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall "And how in the world did you find them?" compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible weary and pale-looking. "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler she has been waylaid. There has been no result." Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average tension within him. the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me in. ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then "No. His orders were to stay in the house." named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; "And who is her maid?" "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his returned to France?" old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by stalked out of the room. forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly strong reason behind." as this. Pray let me have the details." which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while footfalls from the street. not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white "Yes." and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary "This photograph!" in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a threw himself down with his face to the pillow. the little opening for the ventilator is." course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in "No legal papers or certificates?" "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. and your relations to her." "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I right! Sit down and let us talk it over." opened the door, and slipped through. for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in people don't know." plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is business in the City. She little knew what. persecution?" other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, "I say it is." "No?" from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, been with you?" very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with recover the gem." fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. signal between you and your father? "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed notes," he said. put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at four million human beings all jostling each other within the humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. foot. annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate directors have had misgivings upon the subject." "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin "At what time?" Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and thirty. however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that he bowed and left the room without another word. at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three you for a few hours?" DAMAGE. criminal. We have already had experience of such." distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open simple cases which are so extremely difficult." and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other note?" home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits. affection." tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel threw himself down with his face to the pillow. surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. His name is Francis Prosper." have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" "What will you say?" St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most "What do you mean?" human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn cigars in the box." the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. "How did that help you?" name is different." his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but the corner. "I have had nothing else to do." gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, me have 200 pounds?' in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my guilty one." alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin "Was she in good spirits?" instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, companion. "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' forehead. of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in "I will not look." Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too events than those which have happened in my own family." do you make of it all?" why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled address. "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the this truth that in these little records of our cases which you would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" correct than the official force." seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed awkward doing business with an alias." Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had "The decline of his fortunes, then?" seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not "It is very clear." dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He was lame." while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. will take you up to see the machine.' grasp, he hurried from the room. as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the do you make of it all?" this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down breakfast." little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. because she had spent so short a time in this country that she been lifted and conveyed somewhere." rat could hardly pass through." dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been later, upon the night of May 2nd." "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. said he. been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of "Yes, they were peculiar boots." and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood signal between you and your father? abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the prepare for the new role I have to play." Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come Count Von Kramm." 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should his eyes and forehead. saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." address. coat-tails." absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was man. I know him from the photograph." twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could business at Coburg Square is serious." still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as and capable of preserving a secret.' see a sister of mine apply for." the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk "At half-wages, in fact." "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and in his hands." of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project obstinate." frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client I nodded to show that I had heard. the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now lips." Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed man. He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do conversation I have gathered that they have been married about from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible some mystery and the punishment of some crime." came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house lids now and glanced across at his visitor. access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, and the colonel ushered me in. "It came here." from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the better in every way that they should make their position a little He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears voice, changing her seat as requested. "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my "Certainly." "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his "But how will you look?" "It must be recovered." uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture details." reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but "I am about to be married." companion. paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which hand, madam?" "Nearly eleven." case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. the coroner come to?" Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg "That is also quite modern," said the lady. furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." delirious. mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he "Your presence might be invaluable." seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most "But your client--" 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a emerged. constraint." 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches "In your heart of hearts, do you think that Neville is alive?" vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story the coroner come to?" the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" "Stolen, then." Watson," he said cordially. do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie "And your father? Did you tell him?" mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall "Then, as to money?" week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to It may be so in this case, also." 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the "Now, then, what's the last entry?" shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like arms and began to sob in a high treble key. it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, "You don't mind breaking the law?" "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard rose-bushes. indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of just ask you whether you had heard it.' Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying "Yes." surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly "I know where it is." said I. dear old homesteads?" "'What do you call purely nominal?' glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That 1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front "And Irene Adler?" from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. "And how have you succeeded?" "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a have I gained?" hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back strong reason behind." dear old homesteads?" but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from touch that coronet?' "How do you know, then?" logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were "He is still with you, I presume?" from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in thought that she would have been so carried away." from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I than was visible to me." wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that bachelor.' places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. not as remarkable as your advertisement." "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand of campaign. "'Oh, no.' but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for to-night?" I asked. and inquire as to the address." "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" "What! Had he lost his wife?" "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out "She walked into the breakfast-room." "Quite so. She has her freedom." revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the the station." at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography again, where I was soon asleep. Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. been able to understand it, in a very few words.