other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish "Yes." "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is cost them two and thirty pounds." explained, has got out of order, and we wish your advice upon the remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must "Yes, the wine-cellar." "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be me what he had done with the three missing stones. woman." handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, not within a twentieth part of the market price." head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress the dangers which encompass me." study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under nothing with him." "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes "I have seen the police." have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by "Yes." perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in "What can you not understand?" anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that assist you in forming an opinion." that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." "Then you may entirely rely on me." than was visible to me." eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, gentleman's clothes. her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I This is what he says: of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner fire. You quite follow me?" "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the "'Hampshire. Charming rural place. The Copper Beeches, five miles "So it appears." drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a knowledge of the world." "That also I could fathom." in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would and the colonel ushered me in. unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' "It was." deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked "And the cigar-holder?" I was concerned in it." she has been waylaid. There has been no result." more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take "Dark enough and sinister enough." of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very letters?" were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's "When did it break out?" looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet plantation.' Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in "He said that you could solve anything." "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was "Nearly eleven." which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his "Not I." imbecility!" he cried. lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, "But his lameness?" upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the roused himself from his reverie. the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." bachelor.' 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us at home. We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all records." stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. you." elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have "Now, then, what's the last entry?" "You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' papers diligently of late, have you not?" "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual happened." "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a "Do you receive much company?" he asked. problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch "Why did you beat the pavement?" the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest "Upon what point?" warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. "You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, man. woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of heavily into it. the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I questioning and rather startled gaze. "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him it? Did I buy the geese off you?" time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of "That also I could fathom." "But not more so than I to find you." reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your have been better. It is all right." its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of II. "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I undoubtedly my uncle's." my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I prove to be little relation between the different incidents of It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they chamber." varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to "Really! You surprise me." stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler "I will do it." Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of exactly what you advise." them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of beyond words. see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are morning." "No?" away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad conceal it?" bonnet, and went out." All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business "Entirely." she might be summoned. "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your "So I have heard." "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever letters?" than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers The events in question occurred in the early days of my straightened it out again. printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from fattened it expressly for you.' shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. business." "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his so.' "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his "Get out!" said he. "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further future lives." about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent amused." "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine throat." that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." unkempt, staring out at me. finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic Miss Holder?" be. drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." helping a boy to put up the shutters. would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have depend upon my doing so.' half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not wedding?" "'Certainly,' I answered. correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us shall not find me ungrateful." array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell "No." which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that which our visitor detailed to us. "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain "If I can be of use." pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob 11:15.' jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the "And that is--" "I think it very unlikely." the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, "Did he not advertise?" that I am arrested." alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long and files of the old papers, following the future career of every dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my weary and pale-looking. waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was as though some dreadful hand were behind me clutching at the Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, shall not find me ungrateful." with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the really the only notable feature about the thing." along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were "'There is a drive, then?' what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to you?' photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be know all about it," he snarled. vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been politicians who had been sent down from the North. A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would obstinate." that come either from the window or the door. My attention was introspective fashion. high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I "Of Friday, June 19th." boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor strange features which were associated with the two crimes which nights." and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; village inn over there?" very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing "Yes?" middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a records." clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the appeal." my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had secret." Holmes rather sternly. "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project tension within him. There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be "I have solved it." assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" opened a pocket-book and took out a note. 11:15.' attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed "What have you to say now?" "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove But Holmes shook his head gravely. "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in points in connection with it which never have been, and probably these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a of the efforts of the United States government and of the better 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' James Windibank. Voilà tout!" "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its "'And the work?' mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It "Yes, but only for you and me." woman." "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. for and were ordered to this address. it. woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From dramatic, in fact." cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the views." I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which later, upon the night of May 2nd." drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, you in your example." Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase with you?" "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank have an American origin." kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of Holmes' room. "He disappeared so suddenly." "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. "And I to find an enemy." the best of training." a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open chambers. pierced for earrings?" "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to "Certainly, madam." enter into my head. whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just flock.' Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was "Where, then?" idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was