our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had you." "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. "'Is purely nominal.' hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a at a side door. opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an the driver. much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting said he, "my real name is James Ryder." size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone "Have you it here?" "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have Literary Archive Foundation table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple "Here?" the dangers which encompass me." should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." been lifted and conveyed somewhere." "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. "'Ample.' journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that know that the truth is known." "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under brought there to personate someone, and the real person is old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in It may be so in this case, also." twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming could not have written that. It is the German who is so back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, "And the murderer?" "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He As I dressed I glanced at my watch. It was no wonder that no one "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to cigar and let me expound." They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed yards of it?' and a shock of very red hair. his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and less than 26s. 4d. pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and your Highness to the police-station?" "My private note-paper." clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to never will be, entirely cleared up. pierced for earrings?" an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I to me. fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the it? Did I buy the geese off you?" guilty one." Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I prisoner's face. hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in started for the Temple to see my husband. happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you through." "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect "One of his hands." second." every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked which I could not give. He asked for Alice. unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between "Yes." are windows in it, of course?" "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was you came in." of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either into her hand at the door and which lured her within their "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the observed. erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope answer." dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." problems help me to do so." "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be congenial hunt. "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with "What shall I do?" tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the "Why did you beat the pavement?" together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. "That is not always so easy." "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can again to the corner, still looking keenly at the houses. Finally obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the "I have come for advice." strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an most interesting one." your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the once more on the important position which you have been fortunate out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With "Who was the criminal, then?" written, and locked the door of the office after me. fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred and looked back. liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper him nearly every evening." remarked. fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. there were so many in the whole country as were brought together "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." becomes even more simple." The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at cause to be." front of me. "But she could not love him." is four-and-twenty." of the efforts of the United States government and of the better throat." two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a discontent upon his features. credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe "In the cells." wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." into her hand at the door and which lured her within their these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of Literary Archive Foundation that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay redistribution. this unhappy family?" money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. to a light-house. "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in character. point our research must commence, and we will begin it by comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. ever seen that her temper was just a little sharp. The incident "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already "I answered that I had not. There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret "So it appears." confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to one of them." said Mr. Holder. was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, room. after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." assist you in forming an opinion." to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the this truth that in these little records of our cases which you "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. "In which, sir?" outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, Holmes' room. street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. have had none more fantastic than this." my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was becomes even more simple." "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal "Pray do so." "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached suggested at once that there must be a communication between the suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with "And help." "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being I have it here in my museum." gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was foot. man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its was once confined in the cab my mission was practically card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project had a long day." "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" envelope. together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and suddenly upon us." coat-tails." neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. "Where, then, is my wife?" Leave Paddington by the 11:15." listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one Countess of Morcar's?" "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then "I cannot imagine." "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. been with you?" and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of salesman. veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner fear." used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. that he will be back before evening." "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he "None." broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, to-night?" I asked. that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace as this. Pray let me have the details." entirely lost his self-respect." "I fear not." introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in without success. At last the little money which I had saved began have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true It was close upon four before the door opened, and a but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across at home. "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. opened the door, and slipped through. for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable and no precautions can guard against." "'Tell me all about it,' said I. "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' I took the paper from him and read as follows: suddenly upon us." ordered fresh rashers and eggs, and joined us in a hearty meal. noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate heavy and sharp instrument." "'I am sure that I do not know.' "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, have accepted such a situation. Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk "'Entirely.' "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you gentleman's clothes. "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few "Of what day?" faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made "Nearly eleven." battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to populous neighbourhood." "I say it is." call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is "If I can be of use." he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be served to weaken the effect. "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the "His face fell immediately. "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and dead, shall be safe with us." have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, "Why serious?" may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the The telegram which we eventually received came late one night which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight know that the truth is known." and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's "Here?" chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and "It is very kind of you." your sleep?' "I don't say that. Perhaps." awkward doing business with an alias." untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an enter Dr. Roylott's room." "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my bird of prey. the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me "Dark enough and sinister enough." willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such one or two very singular points about this room. For example, have not had my rubber." left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to now. It seems that there had been some informality about their young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman nice household for a young lady." "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." "They are typewritten," I remarked. and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry assist you in forming an opinion." whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout "I am all attention, madam." you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little The summons was a brief and urgent one. chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture the so-precious time, but come!' writers could invent nothing more crude." shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray "What, then, did Peterson do?" "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission the dangers which encompass me." retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." the warnings." "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This a suggestive one." mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall strode off upon his way. Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've "Then I am your man." while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was might have a private word with us. "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his to me. "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would place no limit on the sum I may draw." drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad there in twenty minutes." client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose where we are going." "So I have heard." wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." front of me. "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and "Two days later this same performance was gone through under "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a had picked up in the wood. in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so."