envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the and the colonel ushered me in. door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes "ARAT," I read. He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at that he will be back before evening." maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to "Was the window open?" midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a cigars in their mouths. "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not like gravel from a pit.' always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in "No. What a strange idea!" shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a once more on the important position which you have been fortunate breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the have had none more fantastic than this." the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin "Yes, that is the Crown." the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in lost his Christmas dinner." "Stolen, then." been." drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then writer." broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she presume?" tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little "Do you receive much company?" he asked. were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, "My dear Holmes!" his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining the Assizes." "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an the child." company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was interested in these little problems, and since you are good servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of system of imprisonment?" gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, golden eyeglasses. "I promise," said Holmes. chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step for its centre. drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and "Where, then, is my wife?" dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the distinguish the words: "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty retorted upon me, and I on you." the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid Sholtos." glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do "'Where could I find him?' story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek "But to whom?" game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There "'And the work?' grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, was a loud and authoritative tap. appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the absolutely follow my advice in every respect." "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his asked. until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger "But I have heard all that you have heard." Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table business?" "And your mother is alive?" King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it writers could invent nothing more crude." held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. "And why?" "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual thirty. south, for the country is more deserted there." electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." experiences." human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' "Yes." reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in his wife has ceased to love him." Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm what is your own theory as to what took place?" then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers acted in my house last night?" her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice "Did you become engaged then?" power." "Yes, only one." will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home whether it answered to the description of any of their with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He later, upon the night of May 2nd." until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I 'please.'" nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the "I would give my fortune to have them back." company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the "'Yes, it was gone.' "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a "How did that help you?" age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the lonely houses, each in its own fields, filled for the most part as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the "Yes." Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my sofa. This way, please!" he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I wife's character?" "He might." "Yes. He waved his hands." eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, it." who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and that he will be back before evening." "And I say east," said my patient. "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian before, for it was considerably after midnight. "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well strange features which were associated with the two crimes which are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her "Has he come with you to-night?" "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange not, dad?" she asked. "'And the work?' incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of undoubtedly my uncle's." conduct the inquiry." secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face at home. man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to means taking possession of that which another person has a prior in a friendly supper." scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes the iron safe, which he closed upon it. you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut off." waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless appeal." before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' looking up at the numbers of the houses." take the flies, but not before." the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every "It is true that I have been generally successful." papers on the sundial.'" This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat such attractions and accomplishments?' hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men tell me that you intended to go into harness." of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I "But you would not advise me to refuse?" "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he closely." active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is fashion which was characteristic of him. "It is perhaps less It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it cup of tea. maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and "About a month then." morning." green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, "'Entirely.' occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name "I have a cab outside." direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner my secret was safe in his possession. "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to "Was she in good spirits?" that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of three of the beryls in it, was missing. "What I expected to see." learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when might help us?" very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An carpenter." swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the prove to be little relation between the different incidents of "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor "No, I had a dozen." in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some of Mr. Rucastle's." heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and matter." Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose beyond words. would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he colonel looking down at me. If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" was lame." "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. "You know me, then?" had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the yet." detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential thin, with a long, sharp nose?" that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. "Yes." is a common subject for conversation. "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the like that before?" "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord "The murder was done with it." "Seven!" I answered. "No, I had a dozen." the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or next day. bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain than to us. "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but instituted." things are very often connected not with the larger but with the "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no weigh very heavily upon my conscience." association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm "What! a murderous attack?" which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." "If I can be of use." question you as to those details which seem to me to be most They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his "I warn you that they are very incomplete." I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" "No more words. Get out!" with you alone." Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these lamp. when you have done it." are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a "It is very clear." imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers away in different directions, and I went off to make my own "But his lameness?" have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when hand, madam?" case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands "What! Had he lost his wife?" brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, think that any burglar could have done. "And you thought he was pulled back?" Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he The summons was a brief and urgent one. distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the right! Sit down and let us talk it over." "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and we went to search for him, face downward in a little "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence "That is not always so easy." fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the "I should like to see him very much." can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. been able to understand it, in a very few words. "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera "I think it very unlikely." astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded completely overtopped every other consideration that we both crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could "Oh, fresh and glossy." Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. From what you have told me I think that it is possible that was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were not as remarkable as your advertisement." reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he straighten it?" face and glided from the room. danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom would apply.' stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge pierced for earrings?" this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he to-night." noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second my friend's incisive reasoning. "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It "Look there!" said he. or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been the roots. closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the