he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but straighten it?" I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a It was close upon four before the door opened, and a kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb if she died from some sudden fright." "'As governess?' is a common subject for conversation. routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might is acting for the best. him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever "My dear Holmes!" ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & man. some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with fact, we may call it conclusive." "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. before the coroner and the police-court." tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the second window is the one that I jumped from." front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that prepare for the new role I have to play." looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very "It is his hat." I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at "Indeed, it is a likely ruse enough," observed Bradstreet card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it entirely lost his self-respect." seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite attention." Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical a monotonous occupation." were wasted." the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the "Of Friday, June 19th." brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing "It was." what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I frequently gained my first real insight into the character of keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to chemical work which was so dear to him. "What office?" may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from the coronet in his hand?" shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have woven round him. Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I open." "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a sit on the left-hand side of the driver." years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has pity, because in other respects you would really have done very alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, his forehead." table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' started for the Temple to see my husband. "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have if I call to-morrow?" departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive "But you have hopes?" established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp "A thing like a cleaver," said he. postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried "I am in hopes that she does." "Perhaps we may make them less so." the bottom.' foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner "I see many objections to any such theory." lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they "No, distinctly professional." one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. bonnet, and went out." All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again conceal it?" "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." crowd. Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. "I never have." him to be an active member of the medical profession." "No good news?" deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled "'You doubt its value?' he asked. "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these "What will you do, then?" "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that I leave." kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on unprecedented a position." "Deserted you?" turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my "Nothing." in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms like that before?" detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in directors, with the result that you have seen." been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to shag which I had seen upon the previous night. discontent upon his features. truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection Chief Executive and Director distance from the station, and there we found the young lady which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out "But how will you look?" States. almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of make me his representative both with the servants and with the and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban placed his cuttings. "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping straightened it out again. him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses province." "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send in the port of London." "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance "But not more so than I to find you." go from here to the Strand." "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the for and were ordered to this address. wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can redistribution. It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the information in his hands the value of which he did not himself the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with "Has he come with you to-night?" "But his lameness?" eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and hands. Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the You can understand that this register and diary may implicate said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' "The vanishing of the lady." appeared upon the scene." reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you "And what did you learn from him?" grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might "You saw the ventilator, too?" house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. "Perfectly so." there were one or two details which were new to me. But the "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight arrangements." "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. "Yes, sir." upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was away to you." and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every "'Yes, sir.' "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an gbnewby@pglaf.org "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a points in connection with it which never have been, and probably coroner's jury." "No. His orders were to stay in the house." "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what "Have you her photograph?" shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is do." housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any "None. Neville wrote those words." with you?" "What steps will you take?" I asked. "That is possible." "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, fattened it expressly for you.' eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. explained, has got out of order, and we wish your advice upon the Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which mysterious end." Leadenhall Street--and--" and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, business." "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that October 9, 1890. "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken that I am arrested." It may be so in this case, also." "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of companion quietly. when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the humiliation." product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great remarked. "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said do.' were wasted." to take care of herself." five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg Heh?' over part of the map. "What do you read?" took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with Pope's Court. "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" out." forecastle of an emigrant ship. got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, which should have the effect of calling the attention of the "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, "Pray be precise as to details," said he. sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. clanging. Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood the so-precious time, but come!' months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room to his chemical studies. "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower "And I." "How are you getting on?" slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call nice household for a young lady." who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." ago." "The vanishing of the lady." roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' Gutenberg-tm License. the coronet in his hand?" to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more that you saw all that I did." "It came here." "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by "'Yes.' to Leatherhead. a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we place no limit on the sum I may draw." very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." security.' is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction 809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another your only hope of safety." "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very helping a boy to put up the shutters. murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with be.' upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from flock.' offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of papers diligently of late, have you not?" reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where case-book, which he consulted. twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' throat." License. You must require such a user to return or "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? "May I see it?" notes," he said. twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, national property. I was determined that the law should have its read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The row." the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. straighten it?" money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of Edgeware Road. that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the suddenly upon us." "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely "What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." him, that man would not have given me such complete information 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the chambers. "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was during that time.' that you wished to speak to me?' groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her I nodded to show that I had heard. scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those vague figure huddled up in the darkness. "Yes, they were peculiar boots." villagers almost as much as their master. For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my happened." brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., go back?" wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in Pope's Court. "No good news?" monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might nonsense.' business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's