nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the said he. which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper "The Coroner: What do you mean? deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations "Proceed, then." his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent "It missed him, then?" clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered "'I have already given you my word.' multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently page at http://pglaf.org "It is possible." o'clock is it?" remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." wall." drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a tightly behind him. "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has "Entirely." "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. once more on the important position which you have been fortunate case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a "What steps will you take?" I asked. "Breckinridge is his name." recover the gem." permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to closing the door. firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our "Game for a morning drive?" though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the four million human beings all jostling each other within the "'As governess?' The King stared at him in amazement. "Not in the least." bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass "Yes, only one." form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of my room." the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," "Only as much as we can deduce." bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you "ARAT," I read. their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one Where does the thing come from?' "Deserted you?" "You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, to where he stood hid behind the curtain. it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace "No bad?" "None." is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be would apply.' "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the details should find their way into the papers. Inspector "I answered that I had not. back to my heart. The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." "The King of Scandinavia." Watson," he said cordially. answer." had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting do.' that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. "I don't say that. Perhaps." back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who "I fear not." rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I "The gentleman I describe." wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." "Frequently." ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. tapping his fingers upon the table. Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood fuss that is made over them." the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt "'Ten to two.' I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for "Proceed, then." She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned "How are you getting on?" and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my "It came here." "I cannot tell." it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's digesting their breakfasts at home." is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. gigantic client. "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call answered with a sidelong glance. Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am speckled band?" "I don't say that. Perhaps." "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." I nodded to show that I had heard. "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether the bed, and you in that chair." rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would without success. At last the little money which I had saved began centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel national property. I was determined that the law should have its "None." to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort the warnings." trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." Edgeware Road. has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim a very grave face. it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. "Then I am your man." The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little speckled band?" every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By "What then?" never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the felt the room to be a little close.' I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily letters?" daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is "Stoke Moran?" said he. pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a "It was an hour's good drive." relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may name is different." word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my and it need not interfere very much with one's other extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the soul! here is her carriage at the door." Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by you." plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think occurred." above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, "Well." line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill call it cruel." down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two confronted him. go--none." there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to in the dead of the night?' "But she could not love him." generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my "I assure you that I am in your hands." for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and easy-going way." Project Gutenberg-tm works. "You have a clue?" I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in was the fact that his father should, according to his account, it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." a very grave face. Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were good for you to do.' feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said "Yes." to that open window." interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to been able to understand it, in a very few words. last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which "And your father? Did you tell him?" round and wave him away like that.' said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner photograph a cabinet?" that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal some place of shelter and let the county police know what has which we had just quitted. lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with begun to whiten, even as mine has." "I was certainly surprised to find you there." at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon village inn over there?" "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography look upon these things in a different way." had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter tail." secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So it means?" chance." thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a "Then the page we have seen--" puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of "What do you make of that, Watson?" Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and conversation I have gathered that they have been married about off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" suggested at once that there must be a communication between the have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. away in different directions, and I went off to make my own every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room "She walked into the breakfast-room." Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, during which he might have communicated with his friend the "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I fled together." the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting that I can to serve you." "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom make me his representative both with the servants and with the "How did he come?" at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" "By no means." determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his "You heard nothing yourself last night?" Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. with you alone." many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman such attractions and accomplishments?' "So I have heard." the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a burst into a hearty fit of laughter. the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently "Not yet." "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over "And what did you learn from him?" Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I even so self-evident a thing as that." minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of gone before you can get him to hospital." brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature My friend smiled. civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my your only hope of safety." undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's Munro.' A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate During two years I have had three consultations and one small he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No appeared upon the scene." prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had crowd. "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his "'Tell me all about it,' said I. "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the fatally injured? most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, "He is dead," cried several voices. "BALLARAT." some terrible trap for her." possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the never to learn it at all." suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." I nodded to show that I had heard. season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less disappearance of the bride.'" Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came "That is possible." ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the seven miles from Eyford Station.' more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have to take care of herself." which was all perfectly true. "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by dear old homesteads?" on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily his face which made him a very different person to the round, we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in your own bird, so if you wish--" "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." "The landlord of the Alpha." d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case "I warn you that they are very incomplete." comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. "'Oh, no.' "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds "No. What a strange idea!" Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." "But she could not love him." round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself "'In my own bureau.' "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters of the efforts of the United States government and of the better Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman overpowering excitement and concern. "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the married her." The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and "One of his hands." the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, interested in these little problems, and since you are good destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of becomes even more simple." tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying his huge brown hands. afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was me. my little problems." vault. one of the states of the Union." Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, examine." in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. roused himself from his reverie. heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of woman who has had her own way to make in the world. "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell of campaign. matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I "How did you deduce the select?" business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It "Very well, sir. And this stone?" "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous been lifted and conveyed somewhere." upon an income of about 60 pounds." "Where is it, then?" "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing be best to do. wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat,