in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself tell them apart.' foresight and the moral retrogression?" In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered. known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which "Why did you beat the pavement?" the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." man. I know him from the photograph." fuss that is made over them." Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders such attractions and accomplishments?' really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The "By train from Waterloo." will not take me long to tell. "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. events, Mr. Windibank!" the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your lips." my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the "When did she vanish, then?" do." "But who is he?" with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. "'Then let me do so?' decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having "Murdered?" sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. events, Mr. Windibank!" about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot house for five minutes.' "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, have one." tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name disappearance of these gems?" national property. I was determined that the law should have its purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of "Oh, the cause is excellent!" that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and bell. Holmes whistled. office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and "What! You do not mean bodies?" "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." unclasping of his long thin hands. happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" "Pray do so." inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I call for protection in the marriage market, for the present from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey "'Then let me do so?' very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very 1.F. promised to bring home. France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the kind enough to tell me what I should do." common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near perplexity from it to my illustrious client. Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, "Then the page we have seen--" A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were of Mr. Rucastle's." poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding was feeling which was the fattest.' "I shall most certainly do so." days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a "Did you become engaged then?" "Then how many are there?" note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely must be when I saw the door open.' if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she three of the beryls in it, was missing. trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. shall not find me ungrateful." used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn have accepted such a situation. feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the you want, then?' after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. tightly behind him. "'Where could I find him?' "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of "But you can know nothing of this?" Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few beyond words. Farm upon the left." "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to always that they were such commands as a lady might with "Well?" "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the "What shall I do?" and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. "Then what has happened to him?" Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who of it with the greatest attention. the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then had this final quarrel? where we are going." in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of comes from the middle window." "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk cup of tea. whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who strong reason behind." once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I the side-table." "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun me." "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and investigation." "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over mysterious business." upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that handed it to him. "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the "A greater distance to travel." to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should "No, I am descending." room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and your sleep?' "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely indeed which he could not unravel. "No." wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the "'Quite sure, dad.' And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." the stable lane now." of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to with the outside air!" trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. strange features which were associated with the two crimes which "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the fish-monger and a tide-waiter." back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a "I have come for advice." your bag." "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, "One of his hands." heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a exactly what you advise." electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his "They are typewritten," I remarked. call the police, let the police find what they can.' "Then I can wait in the next room." law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful your own bird, so if you wish--" the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' "Only as much as we can deduce." waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our to change my dress. more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the case-book, which he consulted. "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I steps--for the house was none other than the opium den in which lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms beyond words. "Yes." off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." when you have done it." We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he I shall continue with my miserable story. quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press "My private note-paper." evidence," I remarked. "You will not go there first?" society." A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was breakfast?" relation between them, and what the object of his repeated "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE "Indeed! Whose, then?" and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions look upon these things in a different way." strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we "May I see it?" is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction appeared upon the scene." between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been we went to search for him, face downward in a little course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every cup of tea. rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving "'I am sure that I do not know.' dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an it. "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he had a long day." mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I "I was afraid that you were engaged." ventilator." business." "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in "This photograph!" day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in and looked back. which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most "I beg pardon." There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, I took the paper from him and read as follows: "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," "But it has twice been burgled." all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." not within a twentieth part of the market price." know what is wrong with it.' "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." dear old homesteads?" promised to bring home. I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third "What then?" "Why? What do you mean?" "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better is four-and-twenty." "Oh, fresh and glossy." He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, to some other building. existence." nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? all?" "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." papers diligently of late, have you not?" his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She The police have openly confessed that they can at present make cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who nice household for a young lady." and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed as he folded up the epistle. it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the weighed down with some great anxiety. "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. "I promise," said Holmes. was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported was already answered. opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back green of the new foliage. ourselves in the office." at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The "Was she in good spirits?" at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours "It is very clear." eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic "Will you go?" "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to giving me time to thank him. look dissatisfied." trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton this man was intellectual?" "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can in him." "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and them?" wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, constraint." whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its here." it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which I approached. presented more singular features than that which was associated "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB