during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low "Yes, I have one waiting." dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. to that open window." purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in grasp, he hurried from the room. my room." my former friend and companion. out of this horrible affair." "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his "We have tried and failed." of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check "I assure you that I am in your hands." which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the "Just look it up, then." "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the attempted to ascend the stairs which led to the first floor. At buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. Stoke Moran." agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small "What, then?" purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have "Certainly, madam." come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious that he has suffered." "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, letters?" "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most Have you good authority for what you say?" These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was "Who by?" "Witness: I must still refuse. robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate nice household for a young lady." "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you before the coroner and the police-court." there is a decided draught." "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." allusion to a rat. "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that wall." the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond "He is dead," cried several voices. explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the explained, has got out of order, and we wish your advice upon the however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the nice household for a young lady." following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. "Yes, from Horsham." While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly quickly through a disagreeable task. "And from a noble client?" are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the his wife has ceased to love him." "Why did you pick him?" mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no beg that you will break it off." "Not social, then?" They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a "Nothing?" unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is and inquire as to the address." you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family her also." station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before wanted for ourselves." him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work Leave Paddington by the 11:15." him a price for the stones he held--1000 pounds apiece. That and wait." must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you was not a bird to be seen there. posted to-day." but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want "But the mystery?" window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and "I cannot tell." has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim direction." circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his returning from some small jollification and was making his way uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with 11:15.' forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so weary and pale-looking. walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in and no precautions can guard against." crime. open." Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend "It surprised me." tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, pound a week." the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," newspaper selections." intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that Leave Paddington by the 11:15." "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and "Perhaps we may make them less so." "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, were wasted." have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." main points of my analysis." distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not your own bird, so if you wish--" house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. "But you can know nothing of this?" clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the "What have you to say now?" that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I wedding?" your sleep?' young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and "But she could not love him." cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper "I fear not." circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir "No, thank goodness, she did not." going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you "What do you make of that, Watson?" when your master had gone out." it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." nothing of it?" that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily subduing in the sudden gloom, and in the cold dank air of the prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in writing, and yet I know it well." foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot "But of what society?" what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I breakfast and whispered something to her husband. watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." noting anything else of interest. in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. detective. more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the like that before?" through." contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in "What will you do, then?" son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the you do it in twenty minutes!' room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One crackling voice. so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and gone before you can get him to hospital." "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I "And your mother is alive?" "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," photograph?" "When did she vanish, then?" wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting "Nothing." that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." such person." "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not matter over." "You have the photograph?" absolutely follow my advice in every respect." whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall "About a month then." but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was 1.E.9. "Well?" collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. "In answer to an advertisement." time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." brandy and water within his reach. dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the then?" You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." "Where is it, then?" wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to looking up at the numbers of the houses." solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. "I do." those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not flock.' business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. "Then I am your man." appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should "There are none." then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at I am not easy in my mind about them." could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know correct than the official force." just ask you whether you had heard it.' room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to "Where did he live, then?" case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save reach." "Whose house is it?" "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his "Your French gold?" "Do you go out much in society?" well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great the coroner come to?" summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into "'Certainly,' I answered. fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems easy-going way." "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off started for the Temple to see my husband. "'I have heard so.' 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the "Did your wife hear all this?" mysterious end." sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past do you make of it all?" "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek is acting for the best. without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand where Mr. Fordham shows you.' quite distinctive." place no limit on the sum I may draw." sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could them present such singular features as the strange train of generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the above the wrist, where the typewritist presses against the table, nice household for a young lady." lids now and glanced across at his visitor. "And now?" I asked. "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the with frightened eyes at his accuser. inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in "My dear Holmes!" It may be so in this case, also." "Then what has happened to him?" have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you "I cannot as yet see any connection." he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an four million human beings all jostling each other within the whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, "How did you trace it, then?" others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can "It was an hour's good drive." "On Monday." electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as breakfast?" make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said "How about poison?" "Will you bet, then?" the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in security.' time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of "'Very good.' that he has suffered." constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even "One of the highest in England." 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, "Pray do so." minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of weighed down with some great anxiety. is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I which I could not give. He asked for Alice. idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as matter over." call you and give you the chance." Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." "There is the writing." erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to may never be exposed to such a temptation." some terrible trap for her." and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." This is what he says: common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a "'As governess?' Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her