"Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of "'Tell me all about it,' said I. instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you take the flies, but not before." my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, the best of training." "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a any more." "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said "I will do it." considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She lamp. is four-and-twenty." better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, "Then you may entirely rely on me." bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. "What have you done?" asked Holmes. "The murder was done with it." words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake tell them apart.' which it had come upon my father." "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. read it out to me." Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal The summons was a brief and urgent one. unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some away in different directions, and I went off to make my own examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they and laid it on the table. be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is "'I shall certainly be there.' box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say "The murder was done with it." thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' papers must be those that are destroyed.' inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to your co-operation." Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." made his money." platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as gone. "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a seem to you to be relevant or not." done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, "There is the writing." "Bought." "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. "'Entirely.' Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the "'I am sure if I had known--' there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his "Then you may be so with me." "The best possible." have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. Pope's Court, Fleet Street." round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the "May I see it?" again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" interests were the same as his." there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." "There is the writing." his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. go back?" difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. away in different directions, and I went off to make my own little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, round and wave him away like that.' he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will "There are none." bonnet, and went out." again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as true." teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a "But we can't all be." troubles have been weighing upon his mind. "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to "You are hungry," I remarked. chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at villagers almost as much as their master. "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the "'Ample.' noise which awoke you from your sleep?" appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. then?" does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm me, and I could not think that his explanation of the I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of congenial hunt. License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would relief. certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. fatally injured? continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes the matter." and laid it on the table. "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of The events in question occurred in the early days of my see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice "'Certainly not. But why?' "I do." "Why, it's a dummy," said he. you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my "How about poison?" "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." for securing the situation." than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to "But what is it you wish?" "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in "I say that I have solved it." "Her father is very rich?" photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I "No, thank goodness, she did not." crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. Holmes' thin, eager face. during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In some water from a caraffe. They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through would then never go into court at all." instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought "I do." standing smiling on the door-step. submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon down from London to inquire more deeply into it." "Why did you beat the pavement?" ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." fatally injured? given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." distinguish the words: case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, "Ha! you find it so?" him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. "I will get her to show me." homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, jewels which you have stolen?' "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in directors have had misgivings upon the subject." 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was case before our client came into the room." "It missed him, then?" Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, Holmes' face clouded over. "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the yourselves in at night?" really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope "'Yes, sir.' no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you wedding?" there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all be. that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my crackling voice. "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest "Precisely so. But how--" the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed yourselves in at night?" You want to know what became of those geese?" "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. to a more successful conclusion." "When did it break out?" because she had spent so short a time in this country that she singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector politicians who had been sent down from the North. gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I intrusion of other matters." "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the room. not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your 'I should be able to look after that for you.' state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into "You don't mind breaking the law?" to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a some terrible trap for her." She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I as he folded up the epistle. "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most "'Stolen!' he cried. circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was to talk it over. habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his "To an English lawyer named Norton." money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our McCarthy's innocence. companion quietly. our word." am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and daring than any effort of the imagination." the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. come either from the window or the door. My attention was "The murder was done with it." going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn hair?' "Proceed, then." "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." in a very precise fashion." part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest again." hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my letters?" highroad, where all traces were lost. been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box obstinate." in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some highly," said Holmes. centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. all that?" "And what did you see?" "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for said he, "my real name is James Ryder." in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I arrangements." this Miss Turner." suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind "Why, what do you mean?" least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the Project Gutenberg-tm works. nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my ourselves in the office." in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only matters immensely." intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said not fit the lock." call for protection in the marriage market, for the present hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to his knees, staring into the fire. Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than "I think that I had better go, Holmes." had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he foot. abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few newspaper selections." absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every row." "Thank you. Pray proceed." might have a private word with us. which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the business." practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until "The Coroner: What do you mean? the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another "Why, what do you mean?" slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official generous with you in money matters.' "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. "But we can't all be." "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from affection." blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If your only hope of safety." caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her "It is no ordinary one." had picked up in the wood. understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little "But how?" will take you up to see the machine.' "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' my special province." salesman. "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that conversation I have gathered that they have been married about "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off said he. "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me "Nor running a chance of arrest?" walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first province." nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in it." morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to least a fellow-countryman. over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it "Well." "And how did you find out?" presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been silent! Oh, he will be silent!' My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend "And Irene Adler?" shadow pass over his face as I spoke. cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass started for the Temple to see my husband. convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a