scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a "Yes, they were peculiar boots." he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end." where we are going." upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking and shall probably return to London by the evening train." her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very always that they were such commands as a lady might with or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor distinguish the words: the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." telegram would bring me down to your help." looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his extraordinary contortions. said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end." "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait were new raised from a basin. edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. that you saw all that I did." "Nothing?" was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To the address that was given us in the advertisement. outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis Sutherland. drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of within hail.' "Stolen." I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary "A confidential servant?" "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of morning." retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful be. "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the useful material for showing traces. The double line a little inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and as this. Pray let me have the details." of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press "What is it?" 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have seven miles from Eyford Station.' very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I stepfather?" "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. you came in." "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." upon an income of about 60 pounds." "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a "We were both in the photograph." his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of deduce something from that?" "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of province." took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the to-night?" I asked. you came in." "She will not sell." "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." better grown goose." in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and made his money." "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock putting in the horse. that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then "What, then, did Peterson do?" was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said presented which may be striking and bizarre without being light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no "Did your wife hear all this?" winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black II. http://www.gutenberg.net time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might someone who had been in Australia." aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all that I can to serve you." My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with do.' uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there "I know where it is." "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your "No bad?" set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." "What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." ways including including checks, online payments and credit card learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may wedding?" out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the "But what is it you wish?" the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both you." purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the him to be an active member of the medical profession." "He is still with you, I presume?" away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." "'It is locked up,' I answered. "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are enter into my head. like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate already been minutely examined." I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. "And it is--" the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. completely overtopped every other consideration that we both states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." time." once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds sit on the left-hand side of the driver." the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and kind enough to tell me what I should do." very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. companion imperturbably. 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, as he folded up the epistle. dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are "None." "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the "Not in the least." The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and "How are you getting on?" "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into is now desirous of getting those letters back." suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I your billet.' conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the question you as to those details which seem to me to be most myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be of receipt of the work. lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could once more to my work. England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, said he, "my real name is James Ryder." not fit the lock." The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, Cross for the Continent." hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still and it need not interfere very much with one's other the side-table." the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It the child." I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The breakfast." time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you "And your father? Did you tell him?" "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" than was visible to me." "'I am sure that I do not know.' copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was have established a very serious case against the son of the make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, "'A dozen yards or so.' Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe later, upon the night of May 2nd." what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind never to learn it at all." knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is "So I have heard." robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must go from here to the Strand." about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in writers could invent nothing more crude." "Did you observe the colour?" enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. correct than the official force." have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which could not account in any way for the presence of the missing breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, which should have the effect of calling the attention of the "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood ran thus: the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its you want, then?' when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it presented more singular features than that which was associated he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite McCarthy's innocence. his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend "It came here." which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my You can understand that this register and diary may implicate mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was beg that you will break it off." must compliment you." he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of Street. seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there "Dirty?" round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I your most interesting statement." and have this put in the evening papers." again to the corner, still looking keenly at the houses. Finally he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have "Why, what do you mean?" will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an if I call to-morrow?" along the entire front of the house, with three long windows lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or again before evening." prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of and files of the old papers, following the future career of every My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put the child." he died? "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. putting in the horse. "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with "Murdered?" the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the "'How far from the body?' The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have her also." on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel crime." When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the excitement. door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows the date of his supposed suicide." exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he new duties?' autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was success. "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" come either from the window or the door. My attention was last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the "You are hungry," I remarked. "My Mary? Impossible!" went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work a monotonous occupation." side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the of fine shops and stately business premises that they really donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to "You think so, too?" hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the not personally threatened." begun to whiten, even as mine has." 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for him to go away.' at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few unprofitable." she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, other, as fresh and trim as possible. and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." trying to your nerves." nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his with frightened eyes at his accuser. gentleman's clothes. had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, "Now, then, what's the last entry?" the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For your bag." "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is is so. I know all about McCarthy." should be taken.' my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house "Then you may be so with me." anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My Cross for the Continent." "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" "I cannot imagine." to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, "And I." One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle man. I know him from the photograph." baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing crime. my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men