and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a out of this horrible affair." "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's "Who by?" "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the one of the states of the Union." returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two you, my dear young lady?' "Frequently." "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he gigantic client. "My dear Holmes!" heavily into it. broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed "Indeed! Whose, then?" He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, You can understand that this register and diary may implicate guilty one." may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a the salesman. his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was Where does the thing come from?' clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the there was no need for father to know." at my remark. We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that asked. fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered brought there to personate someone, and the real person is you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been really the only notable feature about the thing." black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet "My dear Holmes!" of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually pierced for earrings?" "'Certainly not.' have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left him." monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or extraordinary contortions. You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. "I am about to be married." "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to second window is the one that I jumped from." "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was you." my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her details should find their way into the papers. Inspector now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' and glanced through. the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean "And did you observe any change in her then?" it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great call for it in person on Monday morning.' "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the power." were unconscious?" that there was nothing in it, after all." "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." "No, I had a dozen." so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is Young McCarthy must be got off, however." "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and "Has he come with you to-night?" inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is security.' the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one confronted him. "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that 1.F. "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes Pope's Court. table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses "Was he the only applicant?" somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few which are rolled in Rotterdam." in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is putting in the horse. tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, bachelor.' call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." "Two days later this same performance was gone through under silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a McCarthy's innocence. warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most "No, I had a dozen." telegram would bring me down to your help." to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day it. rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come giving me time to thank him. of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." coroner's jury." "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." had this final quarrel? of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric Dr. Gregory B. Newby persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked little adventures." wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I we went to search for him, face downward in a little and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. thin legs towards the fire. "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across what I may call a really hard day's work." "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save the room while you explain this matter?" "No." "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. characteristics, but those are the more obvious." exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them dates and names. nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the Miss Holder?" right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled detained." of it with the greatest attention. "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained she slowly sank and died without having recovered her he bowed and left the room without another word. already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what "I am to be neutral?" Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself careless servant girl?" "If so, much may have happened between." midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: "'What would be the hours?' I asked. the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a touch that coronet?' fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. "I cannot tell." "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his sooner or later she must fall a victim. "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were sneer upon his pale face. your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It "'Where could I find him?' A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical his grey eyes. breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The Henry Baker is a member." "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when "No, my brougham is waiting." case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he been able to understand it, in a very few words. I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the noise which awoke you from your sleep?" in this note: where she found matters as described by the last witness. hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I in this note: at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with correct than the official force." Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil touch that coronet?' George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a brain must have something in it." between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work power." Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been tied." wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat notes," he said. and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been "But to whom?" "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." subject to the trademark license, especially commercial "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post salesman. owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought daring than any effort of the imagination." drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and troubles have been weighing upon his mind. give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able presume?" and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into at my own good fortune. saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their all that?" but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of "Murdered?" smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought "Did your wife hear all this?" the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method heavily into it. north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not said he. "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock is entirely a question of barometric pressure." "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband "Perhaps we may make them less so." marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, "Witness: It was. benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My as yours." "A call for help, you thought?" What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's "What is the meaning of it all, Mr. Holmes?" Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. "'There is a drive, then?' refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy "Not I." PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE "One?" his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a and the church but not where the lady lived." "I am in hopes that she does." safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this over with notes and figures. husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or danger is over." it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be of a light. this poor creature." clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled cigars in their mouths. souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the "'What then?' I asked. dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The girl said." suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I returned to France?" trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both was a lad." "We were both in the photograph." and inquire as to the address." arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the searched, without anything being found which could incriminate his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a upon a handsome competence. "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two second window is the one that I jumped from." developed." "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. "'Why that?' I asks. "Perhaps we may make them less so." "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some "I will not look." comes from the middle window." cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that Count Von Kramm." blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your Where does the thing come from?' "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave the child." upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." The summons was a brief and urgent one. or other trace. But how on earth--" and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of "Can I be of assistance?" which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a upon the sideboard." "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time "Then how many are there?" "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to "It was an hour's good drive." hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, figure." instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help putting in the horse. grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned we went to search for him, face downward in a little which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible "We must have a cab." "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have This is what he says: had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss tightly behind him. "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End corner of the building. every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and presented more singular features than that which was associated yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet