familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom "None." tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of success. law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the quick march!" Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to stalked out of the room. late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church "How did you deduce the select?" "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in what is your own theory as to what took place?" shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at prisoner's face. centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." peculiar to him. male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are drawing your inferences." enter Dr. Roylott's room." writers could invent nothing more crude." phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for delirious. years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken maiden herself was most instructive." "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, "Dr. Becher's." found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture "I do." determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for kind enough to tell me what I should do." even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right "The Cedars?" peculiar to him. obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him miles off. case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De companion. "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time "'About the same.' license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the fact, we may call it conclusive." "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in "'Why that?' I asks. "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." you." beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. very old mansion. which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I "And you can do nothing until then?" and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was dramatic, in fact." "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every "'And the work?' "Yes, sir." of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never begin with, and I had not got mine yet." creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his "No?" shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by to that open window." voice, changing her seat as requested. man. she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well it." my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed "It is a murder, then?" "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. http://www.gutenberg.net untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." "We must sit without light. He would see it through the your bag." distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and "In your heart of hearts, do you think that Neville is alive?" "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely upon a handsome competence. husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each shadow pass over his face as I spoke. eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the voice. "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's "'Hampshire. Charming rural place. The Copper Beeches, five miles was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove and the church but not where the lady lived." horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey 1.E.9. your equipment. The summons was a brief and urgent one. flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not "Not I." took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. conceal it?" and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy "How many? I don't know." I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal way: the loss of it. hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could row." It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. mystery may be cleared along those lines." "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I "And did you observe any change in her then?" the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my "The best possible." "Who was the criminal, then?" the roots. former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." breakfast." nonsense.' Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her rat could hardly pass through." with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But sake, don't!" singular points about the case. What did the police think of the to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of "Pray be precise as to details," said he. the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute "I was certainly surprised to find you there." voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets been shamefully used." the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place returned to France?" was the fact that his father should, according to his account, client, rising. of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, His smile broadened. robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've to change my dress. hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was "Holmes, the busybody!" his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon "Very much so." "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the empty. "'What then?' I asked. client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a "It goes to the housekeeper's room." to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The awaited us upon the table. the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the money should be paid at once.' cigars in the box." "Yes, the wine-cellar." this Miss Turner." then?" here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may "What do you mean?" "Bought." "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day "You think that he is dead?" "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any gone. have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been and laid it on the table. "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after "What office?" year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this "'And the work?' appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you "In what way?" asked Holmes. "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point clang of the bell. 809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he there in twenty minutes." and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told past. backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it "In what way?" asked Holmes. facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. chair. his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather kind enough to tell me what I should do." the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of "What I expected to see." companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few "Quite so." fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one three of the beryls in it, was missing. used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be "'And the work?' pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good green of the new foliage. are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. "What is it, then--a fire?" blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has "I see no marks." black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of strange features which were associated with the two crimes which "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. of fine shops and stately business premises that they really since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round "I shall be delighted." "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he servant-maids--joined in a general shriek of "Fire!" Thick clouds "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am stammered. poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case is so. I know all about McCarthy." companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business and wait." All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from case before our client came into the room." lids now and glanced across at his visitor. "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the to where he stood hid behind the curtain. "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of "Not him." "Ah!" For additional contact information: "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate ever seen that her temper was just a little sharp. The incident she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. cigar and let me expound." "Very well, sir. And this stone?" bachelor.' all that?" PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up "Do you go out much in society?" to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love "My private note-paper." on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an crowd. which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good It may be so in this case, also." tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a "'What would be the hours?' I asked. "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, "And leave your case unfinished?" "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in little trying to do so much typewriting?" "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I coffee, for I observe that you are shivering." Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a "Did your wife hear all this?" some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought once more. chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography "What! a murderous attack?" abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found touch that coronet?' day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted hurried away. "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away again on its way. mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than "Well?" information in his hands the value of which he did not himself "'Not at all. I only doubt--' the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," "But of what society?" surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our it right.' "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I "I see many objections to any such theory." on in his house." "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.'