and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. acted in my house last night?" seem to you to be relevant or not." advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried "I will get her to show me." "A confidential servant?" introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. "But you were on a friendly footing?" morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere tied." kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You business matters.' "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There putting in the horse. he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not "You have the photograph?" way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered what I may call a really hard day's work." comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the and a shock of very red hair. "I am still in the dark." "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. as he remarks, very much against the son." Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly "Do you go out much in society?" save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his handed it to him. confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the was already answered. Street. confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" newspaper selections." "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to it? Did I buy the geese off you?" but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am said he, "my real name is James Ryder." populous neighbourhood." "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three everything which you would wish to know." you." his face. "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" passage and a tap at the door. sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate words came to my lips. squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! at my own good fortune. there." should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but children over to America with him, so that I found myself without Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into investigation." "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. made his money." row." hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features was it brought him the coronet? "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall which should have the effect of calling the attention of the The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," some water from a caraffe. "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the "Look there!" said he. vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical "In San Francisco, a year ago." conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately "If so, much may have happened between." police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose second window is the one that I jumped from." "Did you observe the colour?" "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. astonishment. which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was was already answered. while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or could not have written that. It is the German who is so "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." least a most suspicious remark." when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but exactly what you advise." would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he and prosperity to your house. Good-night." into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The "Yes, at the mines." concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick Clair, of Lee." back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call "Precisely." say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle open." half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to returning from some small jollification and was making his way evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for "But the mystery?" terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I this as likely?" classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist Heh?' "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous "No good news?" case before our client came into the room." "And I say east," said my patient. get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We do you make of it all?" across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of "They are typewritten," I remarked. "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay careless servant girl?" in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable towards the blaze. "'I have heard so.' McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only to Leatherhead. absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I prove to be little relation between the different incidents of ventilator." great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread works. of your young ladies.' "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the "So it appears." you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted which we had just quitted. and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn mystery!" that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting "'No, I know no one in these parts.' takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently of the vacancies.' dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. "I don't say that. Perhaps." it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will and it need not interfere very much with one's other her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and go back?" derbies." but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the unprofitable." wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." 11:15.' a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." "No?" he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it quick march!" "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a served to weaken the effect. registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over back to my heart. "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so Arthur Conan Doyle edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project "But of what society?" before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since and glanced through. "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his "My last client of the sort was a king." the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the photograph a cabinet?" The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent peculiar to him. at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped late." "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study "And Miss Sutherland?" with the outside air!" goes." "Witness: Nothing definite. "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four "None." The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their "How are you getting on?" "In San Francisco, a year ago." down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that "'Then let me do so?' third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I that I am arrested." Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in Holmes rather sternly. charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached then?" his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out been with you?" points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could wedding?" "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took place, I think that there is good ground to think that the no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." woman who has had her own way to make in the world. colonel looking down at me. "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was "But what is it you wish?" wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." sound at heart." "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I his face. pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? "But I have heard all that you have heard." walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. fluttered off among the others. the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, second." or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her "Certainly, madam." "Stolen, then." "But not more so than I to find you." drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand the very letters. But what is this written above them?' Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman enter into my head. few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. ever seen that her temper was just a little sharp. The incident "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a "Just look it up, then." see me here to avoid scandal." master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I village inn over there?" "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. be there in time for your coming." typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands "I cannot tell." "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly "How did you trace it, then?" "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be had no one to advise her at such a crisis." "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare Holmes' thin, eager face. to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary trifles." tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared "Then he might have called to you?" amused." Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive man. I know him from the photograph." "Nor running a chance of arrest?" severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other since then to throw any light upon what became of him." four million human beings all jostling each other within the I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly with the outside air!" "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the Street. hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as during that time.' never came back." chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. "No." "And I say east," said my patient. nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson "Never to return." Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I exactly what you advise." whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in "Yes. He waved his hands." I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I friends, not even his own brother. dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair spark where all is dark to me." in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. politicians who had been sent down from the North. force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations sake, don't!" "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is derbies." "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt "Who was the criminal, then?" spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." retorted upon me, and I on you." saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." Holmes rather sternly. When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes "Was there a secret marriage?" conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of digesting their breakfasts at home." "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached "It may not come to that," said Holmes. "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion