moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the and inquire as to the address." bachelor.' "One horse?" interjected Holmes. was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after Holmes' room. familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is "'Quite sure, dad.' admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a do you make of it all?" than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an was keenly on my guard against him. you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to clang of the bell. experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at "To the police?" Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on yourselves in at night?" quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without "Why, it's a dummy," said he. do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in chance." office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be look dissatisfied." not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary mysterious end." in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. acted in my house last night?" what is your own theory as to what took place?" and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies "At what time?" I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor "The murder was done with it." To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of threw himself down with his face to the pillow. "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very "No, I think that I'll take it." "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" "They are typewritten," I remarked. every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs and that he would see to anything that turned up. once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to fact, we may call it conclusive." more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong "How did he come?" may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. "In your heart of hearts, do you think that Neville is alive?" frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. "No, I had a dozen." "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself Holmes' room. it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other where she found matters as described by the last witness. Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in "No, distinctly professional." a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set his face which made him a very different person to the round, were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, it means?" "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not http://www.gutenberg.net sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." comes from the middle window." shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive "And help." grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up just ask you whether you had heard it.' "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present "'Is 4 pounds a week.' you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great dead, shall be safe with us." "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his the armchair which I pushed forward for him. "Texas, I think." Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" "I promise," said Holmes. "Well, some hundreds of times." "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. and no precautions can guard against." they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his o'clock is it?" the matter." shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of he bowed and left the room without another word. in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint "That was it, sir." right! Sit down and let us talk it over." "When did it break out?" "What is it?" "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my "So I heard. You have him here?" day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in "'No, I know no one in these parts.' of the vacancies.' rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and "10th. John Swain cleared. earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, one of the states of the Union." 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." seen the man in the road." you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months some city in a dream. A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever like gravel from a pit.' Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular "'Very good.' to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event "It was an hour's good drive." round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary several quiet little villages up there." Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you "I see no marks." he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them posted to-day." "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." with some details as to your case." is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." disappearance of these gems?" "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may helping a boy to put up the shutters. for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my there was no need for father to know." business in the City. She little knew what. granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their "My dear Holmes!" "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a in the port of London." as the one I chose?' what these perils are?" gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of most important business. It is probable that he will be away all including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide "Eh? What was that?" this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right place, I think that there is good ground to think that the Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to begin with, and I had not got mine yet." "I was mad--insane." awkward doing business with an alias." I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen girl said." refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, from the brougham. down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the present." been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, been deceived." fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have will he say when he returns?" "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion "'A dozen yards or so.' Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked "I will not look." look upon these things in a different way." "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project quickly through a disagreeable task. she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have then?" at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had gentleman's clothes. as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." had picked up in the wood. and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the and a shock of very red hair. which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, "I think that it is very probable." "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going "In your heart of hearts, do you think that Neville is alive?" Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been not, dad?" she asked. go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge and laid it on the table. "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be with some details as to your case." "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined obstinate." it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn anything to a woman, for she would have her way." to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case "Perhaps we may make them less so." "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you or in danger--" discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin ago." woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so "Will you bet, then?" "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few "My last client of the sort was a king." souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by he. "One horse?" interjected Holmes. the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough the salesman. "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And happened." and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a back alive. mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not you in your example." the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among what is your own theory as to what took place?" prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others as noiselessly as she had come. http://gutenberg.net/license). hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to fire. You quite follow me?" soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping is four-and-twenty." "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the in the port of London." the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the "Perhaps I have." Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence "But what harm can there be in that?" with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my "Now, then, what's the last entry?" "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able tightly behind him. "You have the photograph?" of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they what these perils are?" hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than and laid it on the table. looking up at the numbers of the houses." to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and "'Yes.' to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake "If I can be of use." what is your own theory as to what took place?" the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an is entirely a question of barometric pressure." zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of "'About the same.' "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': events than those which have happened in my own family." drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he power." which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the "But his lameness?" his face which made him a very different person to the round, money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit "Where did he live, then?" "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' and no precautions can guard against." travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and http://gutenberg.net/license). "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the a little more before I quite committed myself. which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I crowd. weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' "I have seen the police." The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called waste of energy." including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and cup of tea. "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly "You did not overhear what they said?" which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' will he say when he returns?" mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, in his hands." "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand "Yes, he did." Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie."