brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident me." Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double never came back." ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was your sleep?' the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, "And for present expenses?" Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all point in the dark hollow of his hand. that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be were unconscious?" Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me "Deserted you?" "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" conversation I have gathered that they have been married about "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow room. "To an end?" this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little him a price for the stones he held--1000 pounds apiece. That of the efforts of the United States government and of the better abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage in the hope of finding them." happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard question. understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. to that open window." of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child "'As governess?' flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were "Eh? What was that?" between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was "Very much so." to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a ordinary clothes on?" right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always of." blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." it with his own hands." some mystery and the punishment of some crime." remarked. this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. IS of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the really the only notable feature about the thing." every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened "How did he come?" side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the be. "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell already been minutely examined." "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when papers diligently of late, have you not?" him and tried to hold him back. "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom had no one to advise her at such a crisis." and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic them present such singular features as the strange train of with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. "It's nothing of the kind." eat it." and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the "I am to be neutral?" drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." how narrow had been my escape. I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was all?" hardly wander." some city in a dream. main points of my analysis." minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to criminal. We have already had experience of such." of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. this as likely?" an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the God! What an exposure! What can I do?" be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, "'I shall certainly be there.' beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered "She told me to ask you." ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that "And I say east," said my patient. patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for question," said Holmes, smiling. habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was had no one to advise her at such a crisis." Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. murdered man." course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some "'Most admirably.' upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be and capable of preserving a secret.' Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you open." results." exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time plantation.' heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons had a long day." his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he "Pray continue your narrative." the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with http://www.gutenberg.net Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at of fine shops and stately business premises that they really out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told "'Yes, I promise.' returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me During two years I have had three consultations and one small slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two were new raised from a basin. "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the "Tired-looking or fresh?" "There are none." paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he McCarthy." gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything forebodings. A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming "We must have a cab." "But how will you look?" "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home thirty. word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," respectable self." "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the presented more singular features than that which was associated force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch the coronet in his hands?" "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and "By no means." "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. much for me. I'm not rich, but still I have a hundred a year in including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a cost them two and thirty pounds." think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was official police." are windows in it, of course?" "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was papers must be those that are destroyed.' rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." returning from some small jollification and was making his way laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left recover the gem." "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to status with the IRS. despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." sparkled upon his finger. circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell "I shall most certainly do so." "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival breakfast." tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we "Nothing?" way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a tear off another piece?' has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the "A thing like a cleaver," said he. "You think that he is dead?" which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. what is your own theory as to what took place?" Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and ways including including checks, online payments and credit card borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; definite end. (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and "So I am. Very much so." which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my meant." we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my "No." "Six out and six back. Nothing simpler. You say yourself that the confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we James Windibank running at the top of his speed down the road. which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down confronted him. sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty If you but make such reparation as is in your power, by telling fashion which was characteristic of him. "It is perhaps less "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has "And the murderer?" Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly "9th. McCauley cleared. "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of do.' "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a eavesdroppers?' villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his attention." "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. main points of my analysis." no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. "And who is her maid?" been lifted and conveyed somewhere." providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to gentleman's clothes. soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right "Have you her photograph?" fashion which was peculiar to him. utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we second window is the one that I jumped from." up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he skylight. When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the felt the room to be a little close.' "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your is a common subject for conversation. headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it "Of what day?" Foundation listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come of the efforts of the United States government and of the better "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a was lame." typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business "So I am. Very much so." the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang "It is solved." "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by letters?" (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He you in your example." mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. "Certainly." Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who "Yes, it was twisted." week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week from you?" "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some spark where all is dark to me." "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is "The best possible." once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. system of imprisonment?" the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear populous neighbourhood." twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the him a price for the stones he held--1000 pounds apiece. That lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is For additional contact information: he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at woman." to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold "I should like to see him very much." License. You must require such a user to return or do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and occurred." "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' this poor creature." when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, "Bought." public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing "Witness: It was. one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, pound a week." that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in acquaintance?" "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to mystery may be cleared along those lines." quick march!" trifles." Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there "It was an hour's good drive." as this. Pray let me have the details." "Yes, from Horsham." that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without "And now?" He raised his hand.