four million human beings all jostling each other within the memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his tassel actually lying upon the pillow. me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my "I say it is." He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case opened the door, and slipped through. "A thing like a cleaver," said he. the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." these bleak autumnal evenings." hair?' at a side door. unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." upon a handsome competence. in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should address. approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he astonishment. see me here to avoid scandal." "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one fashion which was peculiar to him. "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. status with the IRS. "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector tear off another piece?' brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that main points of my analysis." reach." head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the assist you in forming an opinion." attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand "And now?" I asked. pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a you." "Precisely so. But how--" with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in see a sister of mine apply for." rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he "What of the rat, then?" paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." singular points about the case. What did the police think of the all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been there were so many in the whole country as were brought together sufficient punishment." "'In my own bureau.' fish-monger and a tide-waiter." dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." row." received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, business at Coburg Square is serious." sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I "Because he was handy and would come cheap." Pope's Court, Fleet Street." is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I "10th. John Swain cleared. woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the said he, "my real name is James Ryder." horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just his face which made him a very different person to the round, spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, "It was a confession," I ejaculated. "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. "That is not always so easy." position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of "I think that I had better go, Holmes." what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of "And I to find an enemy." saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. means taking possession of that which another person has a prior she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." upon an income of about 60 pounds." believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still would be as well for you to have your pistol ready." "Yes." coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the "An accident, I presume?" pierced for earrings?" like gravel from a pit.' springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to "Stoke Moran?" said he. We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a characteristics, but those are the more obvious." "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have to-night." it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' direction." I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could "No, but the enclosure is." Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked the coroner come to?" consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the "And how did you verify them?" "To ruin me." an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when you?' the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel "I would pay ten." himself to hunt down. Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is "Dark enough and sinister enough." reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered "Then, how do you know?" "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his there when the Rucastles went away." struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, "I cannot think." She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" garden below. Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight "I will not look." impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling shall use the carriage to-night." the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. "Then you may be so with me." see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is lonely houses, each in its own fields, filled for the most part "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found "Always." "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." Holmes' room. article?" For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the 11:15.' "Did your wife hear all this?" "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' "'What are you doing there?' he asked. up this clue while it is still hot." lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of "To ruin me." job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, 'I should be able to look after that for you.' hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a do you make of it all?" himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes "At what time?" outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I "I never have." its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No in the dead of the night?' pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. followed. impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with indeed which he could not unravel. could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! unkempt, staring out at me. been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how don't comply with the conditions if you budge from the office though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with "Do you go out much in society?" cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your my former friend and companion. peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in come either from the window or the door. My attention was have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good "He might." no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time plantation.' over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet "My private note-paper." he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking meant it for the best. something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with fait accompli?" means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more is now desirous of getting those letters back." his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed is four-and-twenty." Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would conversation I have gathered that they have been married about I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. "Yes, I have one waiting." had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I "I say it is." fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such been anything against him. He had for years been known as a grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in "It is his hat." discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting again before evening." "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you that?' "No." reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from "VIOLET HUNTER." official police." compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from "Why, it's a dummy," said he. "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand crowd. that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek beg that you will break it off." in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must became a certainty. once more on the important position which you have been fortunate "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I "What, then?" effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly be sorry for having acted so harshly." "What, then, did Peterson do?" "Where, indeed?" method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, "I was afraid that you were engaged." stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." "Perhaps we may make them less so." the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious Cross for the Continent." could gather together that I was able to avert another public "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does do.' A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled "You'll never persuade me to believe that." fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and sake, don't!" fattened it expressly for you.' observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If be. "I will not look." should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul conduct the inquiry." remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on if I call to-morrow?" One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular "9th. McCauley cleared. taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord nonsense.' that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon where we are going." has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary nights." "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of "And why in hopes?" rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may question. fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one way in everything. possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and "You forget that I know nothing about it." "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I very old mansion. have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" "And that is--" elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any "It is his hat." name is different." "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered. it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on "I am sure." only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was "The knees of his trousers." agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then entirely devoid of interest." shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of question," said Holmes, smiling. the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very one which it was hard to resist. eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon maiden herself was most instructive." headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but "She walked into the breakfast-room." compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." "I cannot imagine." "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, should be taken.' States. ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and weigh very heavily upon my conscience." "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked Eyford." the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she "You don't mind breaking the law?" would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making joking. "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this "'Stolen!' he cried. such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over "Where, then?" their singular warning or token before them when starting upon reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty "That is possible." action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon "'Yes, I promise.' that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from "He said that you could solve anything." "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom, followed. of receipt of the work. change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said there were so many in the whole country as were brought together "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of "Yes, sir." St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, from you?" anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching written, and locked the door of the office after me. Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events