orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will occupations.' tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" that you can jump it.' room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed "No, my brougham is waiting." ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. "Yes." deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable dead, shall be safe with us." evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a records." "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I three fields round his house, and there he would take his memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her what is your own theory as to what took place?" the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story "The Cedars?" remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew "What can you not understand?" went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know woman." a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big "'Ample.' laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said "And now?" I asked. in his hands." business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend of us, she gave a cry of hope which sank into a groan as she saw usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had chance at all." "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet Sholtos." of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and shaken than I had ever seen him. "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all right! Sit down and let us talk it over." "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must "And how did you verify them?" active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade me where it went to?" I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, "'I have heard so.' may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the gbnewby@pglaf.org becomes even more simple." "And what did you see?" had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. the morning and make my own way in the world.' work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy once more for Briony Lodge. Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I tightly behind him. "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. "Dr. Becher's." "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE into her hand at the door and which lured her within their "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face "Now, then, what's the last entry?" her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself forbidden door. Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I tear off another piece?' hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." placed his cuttings. you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, photograph a cabinet?" them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the "By no means." that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he hour." Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in fire. You quite follow me?" hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the front of me. Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did pressing in one house as in another. not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than said he. the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to him to go away.' received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. "Yes, sir." fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with "Then the page we have seen--" the so-precious time, but come!' invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and "Only as much as we can deduce." "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. his knees, staring into the fire. not interfere, come what may. You understand?" There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and results." must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at the nursery. most interesting one." but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was "The doctor?" tied." views." "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was asked. any more." advice." "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them hurried away. judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of "No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the "'Very good.' "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get than was visible to me." the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from "What then?" and your relations to her." "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet dear old homesteads?" snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. did not hear it also.' more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper read over the extraordinary announcement. Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to we went to search for him, face downward in a little there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew "'Oh, no.' listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself works. See paragraph 1.E below. did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his charged with?" happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for Count Von Kramm." "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as "What, then?" us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may in my life." "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the "In San Francisco, a year ago." The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence "Yes, that is the Crown." generous with you in money matters.' building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of happened." I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be sneer upon his pale face. street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask presume?" another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief "On your arm?" "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should throat." gone. aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he since then to throw any light upon what became of him." conversation I have gathered that they have been married about consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens less than 26s. 4d. "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," weigh very heavily upon my conscience." will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was through." professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police strength." "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little carriage. It was a chestnut." were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a "Stolen." home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. *** START: FULL LICENSE *** request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the enter Dr. Roylott's room." January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." what these perils are?" test if we have an answer to our advertisement." "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have mystery may be cleared along those lines." same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is vanished into the darkness. the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon compunction about shooting them down." feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, lamp in his hand. being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon later, upon the night of May 2nd." "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" delighted to hear it," he said. a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a have accepted such a situation. my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a The events in question occurred in the early days of my "Did you observe the colour?" My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until said I. a few minutes he said that it would be all right. fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as "What can it mean?" I gasped. danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent his face. "The best possible." and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that not, dad?" she asked. ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a "Absolutely none." minor matters until to-morrow." quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would case-book, which he consulted. collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such the Friday. Was it to be in church?" sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too green of the new foliage. "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this "Very much so." room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. of campaign. assist you in forming an opinion." have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your the warnings." possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but to you." quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. was it brought him the coronet? "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if was feeling which was the fattest.' "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. to change my dress. from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I acquaintance?" my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should dates and names. Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of direction." "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was "Never." beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, amused." nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I wife's character?" propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to "By no means." "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its to miss it." fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He "No, but the enclosure is." to surprise her." footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one fashion which was characteristic of him. "It is perhaps less intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of before the coroner and the police-court." photograph?" young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am "'Where to?' even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As present strange and interesting features that it is no easy "On the contrary, this is the right side." thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the the address that was given us in the advertisement. has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with walking." "Very murderous indeed." He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a "What! Had he lost his wife?" harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, mystery may be cleared along those lines." which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your said Mr. Holder. deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' papers must be those that are destroyed.' come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely outside." truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite one which it was hard to resist. criminal. We have already had experience of such." "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over intimate personal affairs in this public manner." Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then think that any burglar could have done. doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this