him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of see a sister of mine apply for." "'Hampshire. Charming rural place. The Copper Beeches, five miles "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But "'Tell me all about it,' said I. American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off him to go away.' as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your she might be summoned. her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is highly," said Holmes. the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in "We must sit without light. He would see it through the "What is it, then--a fire?" "'A dozen yards or so.' "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian Mary, has deserted me." "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing "But his lameness?" that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," leaning back in his chair. Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, "No, I am descending." "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do suspect him." slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in never will be, entirely cleared up. to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped not use it unless it is absolutely needed." hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" which are rolled in Rotterdam." he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the "Why, it's a dummy," said he. instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." "When did it break out?" equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His "An accident, I presume?" at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last the running down." Chief Executive and Director photograph?" of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes it right.' sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated whole matter to your consideration." "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently to-night's adventure." him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say "The rest you will leave in our hands." wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while "Certainly." significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but habit of advancing money.' forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his absorbing." Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a obstinate." Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, Leadenhall Street--and--" "Thank you. And your address?" hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of "It was a confession," I ejaculated. the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers The King stared at him in amazement. "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the "At half-wages, in fact." his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the nice household for a young lady." Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had read over the extraordinary announcement. journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, together. shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the again." superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you was already answered. thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. might help us?" mysterious business." grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to vanished into the darkness. balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address opened the door, and slipped through. Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father in his power. endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the gone before you can get him to hospital." again to the corner, still looking keenly at the houses. Finally think that he is innocent?" her also." known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: the child." "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, was used.' "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding business matters.' going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and laugh and put his lips to my ear. "From his hat?" prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but "Dr. Becher's." came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." "So I heard. You have him here?" and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you had no one to advise her at such a crisis." alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand narrative." "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the "I have seen the police." "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham ceremony." the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace "Thank you. Pray proceed." "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will "Not particularly." "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. should be so warm over such a trifle." ourselves in the office." is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle you came in." figure." "That sounds a little paradoxical." "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I to you." week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love his eyes and forehead. absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he late." How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered instincts rose up against that laugh. unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I where we are going." the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as as noiselessly as she had come. lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for long narrative. "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and province." was the fact that his father should, according to his account, late!' "Certainly." keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this vague figure huddled up in the darkness. while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and chambers. thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring even of instruction." remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold Holmes rather sternly. come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away indeed happy." go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. locked. looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think "'Never,' said I. "You saw the ventilator, too?" "No?" banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a good for you to do.' truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get works. See paragraph 1.E below. "It is his hat." know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been fear." "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; you." anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body suspect him." Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might arrested. You then--" He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable case before our client came into the room." "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, will not take me long to tell. dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, works. it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the this truth that in these little records of our cases which you he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away went to the Alpha were town bred." as he remarks, very much against the son." "That is it on the dressing-table." but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. cigar and let me expound." of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in "Where, indeed?" it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency guilty parties." been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my Again Holmes raved in the air. more solid." tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we chance." corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two garden below. saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which "Yes, that is the Crown." On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what "This photograph!" from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I here." someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his "How did that help you?" threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will would be as well for you to have your pistol ready." retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' lost nothing by them." shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes is four-and-twenty." imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short hard-headed British jury." grasp, he hurried from the room. turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a envelope. once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to touch that coronet?' favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as "No sign of it?" that before taking the final step I should like to submit the "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the "Pray tell us what has happened to you." salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing everything which you would wish to know." that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I "That is possible." make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I within hail.' hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in "You horrify me." "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the nonsense.' "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It "I should wish to." latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it he died? practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged morning." "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on there were so many in the whole country as were brought together thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man retorted upon me, and I on you." of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the "None." it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white James Windibank. Voilà tout!" points in connection with it which never have been, and probably world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away "Certainly." have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just subduing in the sudden gloom, and in the cold dank air of the would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat new acquaintance to Baker Street. league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted triumphant cloud from his cigarette. attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But highroad, where all traces were lost. time." in the port of London." leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical from the brougham. gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And,