fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, of the way of danger. "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, stalked out of the room. back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he public press." a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" "No." Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a everything which you would wish to know." would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which "I don't say that. Perhaps." case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary man. I know him from the photograph." "How about poison?" "Why, it's a dummy," said he. and have this put in the evening papers." "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to relief. accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my least a most suspicious remark." sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what affair. were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. I am not easy in my mind about them." directors, with the result that you have seen." but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On singular points about the case. What did the police think of the triumphant cloud from his cigarette. But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly shadow pass over his face as I spoke. washing it down with a long draught of water. desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent "It may not come to that," said Holmes. "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who asked. glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet delighted to hear it," he said. head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, affection." to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. "Perhaps we may make them less so." behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a way in." "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he was already answered. "Murdered?" that you can jump it.' "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said likely to be some crony of the landlady's." However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I "Nothing." my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed "One of his hands." takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that again, where I was soon asleep. Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's "'Never.' Street. observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it "No good news?" I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are lips." Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just from the cellar, "I do not know how the bank can thank you or 1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well him a price for the stones he held--1000 pounds apiece. That Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might whatever might befall. test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came "To ruin me." served to weaken the effect. reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me a few minutes he said that it would be all right. "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer have not had my rubber." "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring he. "Stolen, then." earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can handed it to him. "How are you getting on?" PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE the date of his supposed suicide." inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the cost them two and thirty pounds." attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young "I will do it." among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at ceremony." had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, "Texas, I think." where we are going." "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an "And the cigar-holder?" and shall probably return to London by the evening train." are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the "Not social, then?" you?" they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a "And what then?" "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we ordered fresh rashers and eggs, and joined us in a hearty meal. leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking intimate personal affairs in this public manner." by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe "What have you to say now?" sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, "A confidential servant?" you have a quick eye for colour. Never trust to general "Certainly." any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. you, my dear young lady?' the room while you explain this matter?" written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you "A thing like a cleaver," said he. "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. "May I see it?" very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting it." standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in arrangements." "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack your most interesting statement." the child." news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving him to go away.' to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside must compliment you." colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. "Certainly." India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the nice household for a young lady." said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed seem to you to be relevant or not." who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" yards of it?' facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great shall not find me ungrateful." room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable His name is Francis Prosper." "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church "'I have heard so.' Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more arms and began to sob in a high treble key. your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow this unhappy family?" the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my what I may call a really hard day's work." one else, I think." noise which awoke you from your sleep?" "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms "Nothing?" by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had "And who is her maid?" seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told returning from some small jollification and was making his way my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me cup of tea. the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang weapon." for securing the situation." although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with "Nothing?" "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about "Your French gold?" forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a "What is it?" tapping his fingers upon the table. said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. wall." eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently searched, without anything being found which could incriminate "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old subject to the trademark license, especially commercial "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent Clair, of Lee." routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by means taking possession of that which another person has a prior rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying your most interesting statement." bears upon the case?" black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by the morning and make my own way in the world.' may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, matter." "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project the room while you explain this matter?" American. Then who could this American be, and why should he I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week indiscretion." "Dr. Becher's." "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four to tackle the facts." "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a "Then what has happened to him?" "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day dramatic, in fact." could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, do.' before the coroner and the police-court." matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He "You have compromised yourself seriously." from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some "How many? I don't know." "And the murderer?" "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of "Very well, sir. And this stone?" should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and tension within him. Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears "You are hungry," I remarked. and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in "I am to be neutral?" rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is "And did you observe any change in her then?" exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good "On your arm?" fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking him and tried to hold him back. scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, Count Von Kramm." in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in writers could invent nothing more crude." back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at "Yes, he did." room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham "Yes, the wine-cellar." is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the definite end. kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I assist you in forming an opinion." tassel actually lying upon the pillow. leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that Sutherland. jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but details should find their way into the papers. Inspector "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other been deceived." "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name to tackle the facts." The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true interests were the same as his." public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' chambers. will not take me long to tell. thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' open." inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after or other trace. But how on earth--" occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I nothing with him." "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." "Well, but China?" the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and it were putty." all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder think that any burglar could have done. would then never go into court at all." "What, then?" Arthur Conan Doyle learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have sofa. This way, please!" been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone."