broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual the station." employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker will find little credit to be gained out of this case." "But his lameness?" of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a occupations.' corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider the coronet in his hands?" away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, I am not easy in my mind about them." closely." crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows may have an influence upon European history." hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a "No, I am descending." Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, "Oh, the cause is excellent!" enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. "Pray be precise as to details," said he. crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, tension within him. outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he when your master had gone out." knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster second window is the one that I jumped from." would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed bare slabs of marble. work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 "I will do it." The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' we went to search for him, face downward in a little "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were photograph?" off." sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they The note was undated, and without either signature or address. this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See already referred to. was it brought him the coronet? whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! delirious. and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact fashion which was peculiar to him. transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a "To an English lawyer named Norton." the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year "How many? I don't know." Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and "It is true that I have been generally successful." Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose occupation, but was interested in several companies and went into as he remarks, very much against the son." grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the His smile broadened. would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to amused." "Quite so." "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' "'Certainly,' I answered. quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing business." cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have is a common subject for conversation. given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" which was all perfectly true. "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing any little problem which you may submit to me." did not hear it also.' Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure 1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the "I would pay ten." quickly through a disagreeable task. stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that me what he had done with the three missing stones. chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, light and attacked it." eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the of them has the shutters up.' "The rest you will leave in our hands." off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This "It was." jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was discontent upon his features. struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and "I don't believe it." Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is "Do you receive much company?" he asked. ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." read over the extraordinary announcement. and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save nice household for a young lady." Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful from the cellar, "I do not know how the bank can thank you or 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" unprecedented a position." understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a investigation." and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in recover the gem." dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There "Then you may entirely rely on me." Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter investigation." told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a "Get out!" said he. re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found "You don't mind breaking the law?" "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the heavy and sharp instrument." young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is in the dead of the night?' peculiar to him. to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name fled together." is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. lost his Christmas dinner." say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the key turn in the lock." perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He for its centre. "And what did you see?" an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on reach." prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me outside." which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who down. time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet and shall probably return to London by the evening train." bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than Stoke Moran." "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not cigars in the box." the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no "It was a confession," I ejaculated. time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing "Nor running a chance of arrest?" going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the existence." "He is still with you, I presume?" and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you "Eh? What was that?" know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his will find little credit to be gained out of this case." chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. everything which you would wish to know." "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission note?" inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it direction." As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a have one." and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a "I don't say that. Perhaps." Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" *** START: FULL LICENSE *** the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous "You horrify me!" "No, my brougham is waiting." Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the was keenly on my guard against him. His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as washing it down with a long draught of water. words came to my lips. secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. criminal. We have already had experience of such." over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of "And now?" He raised his hand. and put his glass in his pocket. by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they now. It seems that there had been some informality about their the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the man. Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next detained." to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual happened." detained." of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank said he at last. full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt "'Very good.' convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an "Where is it, then?" whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. should be taken.' round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, "I am following you closely," I answered. in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, servant-maids--joined in a general shriek of "Fire!" Thick clouds Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' money should be paid at once.' confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. "Your French gold?" "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for "I saw her in conversation with her maid." which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" crime. "What will you do, then?" a very grave face. "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. "No, thank goodness, she did not." "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that "How can you tell that?" always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over important." Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." "They are typewritten," I remarked. to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off his forehead." "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such think that he is innocent?" works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg "Yes." absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." behind me. He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she himself. the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, make me his representative both with the servants and with the down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some "What! Had he lost his wife?" "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to little adventures." help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which kind enough to tell me what I should do." business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon for its centre. very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. the house with me." have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY not within a twentieth part of the market price." from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will