"Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. "My photograph." thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out fashion which was peculiar to him. It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she four million human beings all jostling each other within the "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either "So I heard. You have him here?" Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not present strange and interesting features that it is no easy "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive outside." "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few "It surprised me." "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her of the one which your family is now devouring." "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the "My private note-paper." manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said "Dr. Becher's." which are rolled in Rotterdam." little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to nonsense.' there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are disappearance of these gems?" ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. spark where all is dark to me." down in his armchair and closing his eyes. her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in "'Then let me do so?' stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some noble correspondent could be. "But she could not love him." all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally the stones. There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out "My own seal." "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had "Pray be precise as to details," said he. classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the the side-table." successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who returned to France?" and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. What do you deduce from it?" I think that I could be of assistance to you." Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the floor. branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the "And why?" which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in License. You must require such a user to return or utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a "A call for help, you thought?" didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to were unconscious?" which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away goes." the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, room had already been engaged for us. "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be sound at heart." her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had may have an influence upon European history." happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was "And how have you succeeded?" are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet vague figure huddled up in the darkness. room. me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found Eyford." suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" question. his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and was keenly on my guard against him. "Oh, yes, easily." then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, remarked. occupations.' arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I "No sign of it?" docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty himself in a perplexing position. would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came late!' from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his "Eh? What was that?" would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal begun to whiten, even as mine has." self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the good-night and bustled off upon her way. active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering third from London." Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in "Was there a secret marriage?" but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The "'Yes, sir.' object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to "Yes." slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of the coroner come to?" colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid following enigmatical notices: square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no "This photograph!" drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than lids now and glanced across at his visitor. Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it "My photograph." "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the towards the blaze. "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are "It's nothing of the kind." "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in too. "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any delirious. happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the do." Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side begin with, and I had not got mine yet." penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked lectures into a series of tales." greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' this Miss Turner." "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. she has been waylaid. There has been no result." north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have McCarthy's innocence. "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are is entirely a question of barometric pressure." is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss out." here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence "Really! You surprise me." few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting been deceived." "Very. But will he see it?" But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new keep the flames under. "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her stepfather?" at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during meant it for the best. "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange "Perhaps we may make them less so." "By train from Waterloo." was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, "Of Friday, June 19th." There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it the warnings." whatever might befall. highroad, where all traces were lost. showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. had died away into the silence from which it rose. first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and "Yes, sir." Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which of." he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the spare." has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought roused himself from his reverie. Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he "'What do you call purely nominal?' I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid and it need not interfere very much with one's other "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry to tackle the facts." seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, nonsense.' "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever singular points about the case. What did the police think of the insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of examine." mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I secret." held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were you, my dear young lady?' on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular to a more successful conclusion." furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of which we had just quitted. had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" weapon." case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it hour?' but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your to tackle the facts." outside." drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to business." out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But "He is still with you, I presume?" "And why in hopes?" "Well, it is a possible supposition." "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable depend upon your compliance." "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate "That you are never beaten." The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of wedding?" murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the to-night's adventure." that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, during which he might have communicated with his friend the at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous "I shall most certainly do so." garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, learned something! Where are the gems?" opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with may never be exposed to such a temptation." propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. politicians who had been sent down from the North. astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George Foundation crime. "It missed him, then?" - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on weigh very heavily upon my conscience." "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved to surprise her." enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been indeed happy." hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is will find little credit to be gained out of this case." With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away someone who had been in Australia." back alive. round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to do you make of it all?" knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the as though some dreadful hand were behind me clutching at the home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which I have it here in my museum." year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper lost nothing by them." yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there "And why in hopes?" directors, with the result that you have seen." provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the companion. entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly and it need not interfere very much with one's other "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, stammered. figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the