red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always she used." unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily not as remarkable as your advertisement." where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To sofa. This way, please!" fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered "In the cells." the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them stalked out of the room. Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." "A thing like a cleaver," said he. Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their fattened it expressly for you.' "But his left-handedness." "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, villagers almost as much as their master. certainly do as you advise." of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding lids now and glanced across at his visitor. "And did you observe any change in her then?" five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss be best to do. late!' "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, retorted upon me, and I on you." whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." three of the beryls in it, was missing. stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which go from here to the Strand." of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, "Yes." About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little in my life." simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich direction." "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by you." shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by morning." to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." nothing of it?" into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual your sleep?' that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. "What! Had he lost his wife?" with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit "Has he come with you to-night?" perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite "You horrify me!" any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the to a more successful conclusion." As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons "'Not at all. I only doubt--' house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was meanly of me." as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his "But his left-handedness." (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of only touch the interest." "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel spare." "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would taking in every detail of the apartment. her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. tell them apart.' "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a is," said he presently: seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' until night should bring an explanation. and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, "What have you to say now?" afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing row." us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in "'Never,' said I. "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather it." over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could bird of prey. "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. never came back." Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally "Do you go out much in society?" of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, "Have you her photograph?" quickly through a disagreeable task. of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. "The doctor?" Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire the night.' Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who foresight and the moral retrogression?" "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice Serpentine Avenue. creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up attention." "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could of." Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. and looked back. of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may "And Irene Adler?" Holmes rather sternly. present strange and interesting features that it is no easy flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just is," said he presently: attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by present." attention." distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where the man of whom I had heard. He appeared to be in a by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being "No bad?" contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers vanished into the darkness. "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in you." should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him more solid." "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and "Texas, I think." room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope once more on the important position which you have been fortunate "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for Eyford at 11:15.' him and tried to hold him back. that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. placed his cuttings. the coronet in his hand?" "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it bled considerably." "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life do you make of it all?" The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white bears upon the case?" He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the "They are typewritten," I remarked. the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" "Perhaps we may make them less so." Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of his huge brown hands. I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he "Yes, sir." send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the "What have you done?" asked Holmes. enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without "A call for help, you thought?" contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. at my remark. assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's "Ample." black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" "When did she vanish, then?" and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this that I may have something better before very many minutes are TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and charged with?" skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." disappearance of the bride.'" "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the "You saw the ventilator, too?" crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. excitement. "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. "You were travelling in the States?" swore that no one else had been in the front room during the key turn in the lock." shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** on in his house." daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional you." Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small remarked. all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should them present such singular features as the strange train of scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, British peeress.'" who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has Edgeware Road. "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, your co-operation." without success. At last the little money which I had saved began "Then, how do you know?" the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one of the one which your family is now devouring." and have this put in the evening papers." that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both our word." 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he forehead. walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made "That is unusual in a young girl." "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded jewels which you have stolen?' There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those "Because he was handy and would come cheap." had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and This is what he says: blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the a good hundred miles off by now." the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from and prosperity to your house. Good-night." "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting I took the paper from him and read as follows: electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his "Game for a morning drive?" "Then, how do you know?" "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted and put his glass in his pocket. work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the second window is the one that I jumped from." orange pips. "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. "But how will you look?" "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in strode off upon his way. "It surprised me." upon an income of about 60 pounds." St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he be sorry for having acted so harshly." Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his dead, shall be safe with us." fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman ourselves in the office." Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to "I was mad--insane." "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass