time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham key of the affair now." collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing really the only notable feature about the thing." education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and Miss Holder?" said he. faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some some mystery and the punishment of some crime." her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, "What have you done?" asked Holmes. "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was was lame." Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. The police have openly confessed that they can at present make plantation.' "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into "His face fell immediately. "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, Foundation "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have "Very well, sir. And this stone?" drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for gigantic client. brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I Holmes rather sternly. fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the "Why, it's a dummy," said he. "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police murdered man." for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted brought there to personate someone, and the real person is Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint respectable self." occurred." Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I have I gained?" before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were your equipment. have not had my rubber." quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in "Never." "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found and prosperity to your house. Good-night." once more. there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to My friend smiled. his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would the night.' "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the matter." admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." "You forget that I know nothing about it." which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was a very grave face. him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is key of the affair now." We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which "The rest you will leave in our hands." Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. pressing in one house as in another. "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of shall not find me ungrateful." free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home that there was nothing in it, after all." took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you "And it is--" I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. will not take me long to tell. against a man in the prime of life?" wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about "No good news?" "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who Project Gutenberg-tm works. in one or two places in England?' business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative room had already been engaged for us. "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" "Indeed, it is a likely ruse enough," observed Bradstreet just called myself is not exactly my own." he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. "Tired-looking or fresh?" chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug "They are typewritten," I remarked. zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project will be renamed. pierced for earrings?" As I dressed I glanced at my watch. It was no wonder that no one The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at his forehead." in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, 'I should be able to look after that for you.' authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." "She walked into the breakfast-room." wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you figure." "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. shall not find me ungrateful." "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" that I am arrested." parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your stepfather?" enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call wall." "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and asked with his eyes open. "But you would not advise me to refuse?" that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace "But your client--" Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other get her out of the way." about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in "I beg pardon." and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man she to prove their authenticity?" months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is tassel actually lying upon the pillow. concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them said he. were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, promised to bring home. brandy and water within his reach. A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic "By no means." "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." "How often?" send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest "An accident, I presume?" will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may returning from some small jollification and was making his way London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be "And that is--" "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up his grey eyes. man. poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I "How did you deduce the select?" The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation woven round him. it means?" often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." "You horrify me." to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday some place of shelter and let the county police know what has slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about "And on what day did he meet his death?" 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to down in his armchair and closing his eyes. "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and had this final quarrel? say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his clanging. should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. must be when I saw the door open.' 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a and looked back. vanished into the darkness. Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came will take you up to see the machine.' the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he Arthur Conan Doyle permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has and inquire as to the address." believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were "And for present expenses?" rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got the bed, and you in that chair." vault. to change my dress. you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way. I Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire "There is the writing." and files of the old papers, following the future career of every weigh very heavily upon my conscience." said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds "What steps will you take?" I asked. King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. "How are you getting on?" for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face something of him before." Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six spare." "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that long narrative. noise which awoke you from your sleep?" yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as Chief Executive and Director "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. "But the mystery?" What do you deduce from it?" incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are "In heaven's name, what for?" there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait recover the gem." "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four The note was undated, and without either signature or address. pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." was it brought him the coronet? Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." "But what is it you wish?" the station." coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and notes," he said. empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a "It was an hour's good drive." Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the or other trace. But how on earth--" Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, during which he might have communicated with his friend the said he. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent cost them two and thirty pounds." hand, madam?" "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" and laid it on the table. occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than "Certainly." "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 will not take me long to tell. The telegram which we eventually received came late one night attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had or other trace. But how on earth--" before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, "But how could you guess what the motive was?" drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was be sorry for having acted so harshly." the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of Mary, has deserted me." figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive with frightened eyes at his accuser. sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others would then never go into court at all." return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was burst out into a roar of laughter. how narrow had been my escape. sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? morning." lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." official police." iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap "You have the photograph?" wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence "Which are?" have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you of campaign. "'Where to?' "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the cigars in their mouths. foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. "But to whom?" happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and servant-maids--joined in a general shriek of "Fire!" Thick clouds town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate despair." and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did entirely devoid of interest." once more for Briony Lodge. "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers his knees, staring into the fire. to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an his forehead." that threaten you." only touch the interest." understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague too. reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom "I know where it is." License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling fat-encircled eyes. the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and ever seen that her temper was just a little sharp. The incident "You heard nothing yourself last night?" Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce "Well, but China?" little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are