my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I posted to-day." upon the sideboard." asked with his eyes open. "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a "No, distinctly professional." directly by questioning you." one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the "In which, sir?" "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, shall use the carriage to-night." in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is some water from a caraffe. Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing closing the door. at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The investigation." "It surprised me." would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a "'Yes, sir.' never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." subject to the trademark license, especially commercial what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that official police." doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. papers must be those that are destroyed.' "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come During two years I have had three consultations and one small "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock "Witness: Nothing definite. wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" most interesting one." to some other building. "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which manager. 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I suggested at once that there must be a communication between the been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good "And you can do nothing until then?" came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." "I saw her in conversation with her maid." "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round "So it appears." it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as assist you in forming an opinion." "Yes, I have one waiting." corner of the building. platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not explained, has got out of order, and we wish your advice upon the servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all your Highness to the police-station?" fattened it expressly for you.' time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little tail." owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either recover the gem." card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable he bowed and left the room without another word. man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside the side-table." weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as was a loud and authoritative tap. entirely lost his self-respect." Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. call for it in person on Monday morning.' "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What as this. Pray let me have the details." papers must be those that are destroyed.' so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm excitement. hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our from the brougham. It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would enter into my head. was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in I shall continue with my miserable story. photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal is so. I know all about McCarthy." before the coroner and the police-court." "Yes, at the mines." was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off recover the gem." Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if indiscretion." he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." whether it answered to the description of any of their "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and "She showed me, as I told you she would." in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior that you can jump it.' abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not must be when I saw the door open.' small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an business at Coburg Square is serious." turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At "And how?" "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he disappearance of these gems?" It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a became a certainty. centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short correct than the official force." was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as my secret was safe in his possession. his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it "Have you her photograph?" transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, "What do you make of that, Watson?" where we are going." absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy stood on the top of it. one or two very singular points about this room. For example, "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror assist you in forming an opinion." Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting here and I will read it to you: ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it it with his own hands." use an arc-and-compass breastpin." "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the himself to hunt down. "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to only touch the interest." of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be you." "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and address. wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without the running down." he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we about. something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such like gravel from a pit.' poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." abroad, and he has been in failing health for some time. This safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his any more." enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of asked. benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At "Certainly." without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and started for the Temple to see my husband. are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one own family. "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' "I never have." reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save "I am about to be married." so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of "That is easily got." "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would behind me. cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, miles off. you give your casting vote to?" "You horrify me." "Your French gold?" yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is "Married! When?" "I see many objections to any such theory." "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with which should have the effect of calling the attention of the future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, "Yes, he did." silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most train.' A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the "How did you trace it, then?" sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I "You are all wrong." Sutherland. and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up an introduction to him?" Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little "Very. But will he see it?" weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. "It was." We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains words came to my lips. with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be have been better. It is all right." you in yours." of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from them?" "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" who was a member of your goose club." the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of me." imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came you want, then?' foot. shoulder. base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. served to weaken the effect. however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his humiliation." what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with as though some dreadful hand were behind me clutching at the copied or distributed: inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid writing, and yet I know it well." last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room wall." minor matters until to-morrow." the matter." agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! your room." truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring "Certainly, madam." weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, "No bad?" side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is "'Ample.' "But how did you gain them?" which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit empty. "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. it? Did I buy the geese off you?" Holmes rather sternly. a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." "In the cells." submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover signal between you and your father? success. then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass "'Is purely nominal.' should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a do you make of it all?" directors, with the result that you have seen." "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, depend upon my doing so.' beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in during which he might have communicated with his friend the farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been one which it was hard to resist. comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire "Quite so. She has her freedom." jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most sooner or later she must fall a victim. "Yes, it would be as well." and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the redistribution. guilty one." murdered man." Doctor, of the paper and the date." "Why, it's a dummy," said he. someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my were wasted." sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the