handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It villagers almost as much as their master. twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was such person." homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the "On the contrary, this is the right side." the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your here." very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a certainly not very gracious." of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes pierced for earrings?" Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," fuss that is made over them." there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." good for you to do.' as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If "Seven!" I answered. "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual national property. I was determined that the law should have its "How on earth--" league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some get the tickets." "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who name is different." with some details as to your case." the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the easy-going way." "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a hurried away. though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, Farm upon the left." of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who "We have tried and failed." "I am all attention, madam." "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, future lives." pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook "'Tell me all about it,' said I. been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and without a word or a look. with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his the salesman. "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his "I know where it is." for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers relief. "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" province." never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. had formerly been in part my own. already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." your own bird, so if you wish--" ran thus: money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and upon the white wrist. I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes strength of mind to control. exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, careless servant girl?" side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the so far?" "Why serious?" deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We the dangers which encompass me." Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an "You have it, sir, just as it happened." could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round weigh very heavily upon my conscience." and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, "And I." "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification for securing the situation." up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to over with notes and figures. young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, their singular warning or token before them when starting upon it right.' with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep article?" came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes read it out to me." making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man of." it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It "I should wish to." to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It know all about it," he snarled. served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which breakfast and whispered something to her husband. that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? "Yes, it would be as well." "'Never.' stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. "'And what salary do you ask?' "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." certainly not very gracious." and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into there." Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be "Certainly." "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case Young McCarthy must be got off, however." telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." "She will not sell." "You did not overhear what they said?" introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to "But how?" of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite "The gentleman I describe." surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor me, and I could not think that his explanation of the they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg note?" "And did you observe any change in her then?" foot. his eyes and forehead. We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was companion quietly. considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." indiscretion." upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up "That sounds a little paradoxical." bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and Serpentine Avenue. About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and locked." to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." all that?" His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of "Then I shall certainly come." as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' as though some dreadful hand were behind me clutching at the until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your upon a handsome competence. "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in matters immensely." something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can "Will you bet, then?" Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The "Nothing?" She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young constraint." could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. "He slept on the premises." opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of "Yes." "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted the stable lane now." confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered. very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming strong reason behind." make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she "'Yes, sir.' deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked himself to tell his story. matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's "I cannot say that I have." than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight as the one I chose?' 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off his wife has ceased to love him." was a loud and authoritative tap. and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, to talk it over. that he will be back before evening." would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop "Do you know him?" winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've "No." gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you presented which may be striking and bizarre without being smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." opened a pocket-book and took out a note. threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each "He might." and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp "'About the same.' "By train from Waterloo." upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and matter over." the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is someone who had been in Australia." Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but shadow pass over his face as I spoke. "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say distinguish the words: "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a thirty. "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel companion imperturbably. were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I "No, finished." the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But married her." laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from exactly what you advise." about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you "So it appears." "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social whatever might befall. and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The "There are none." "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and bearing upon the case." "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to visitors." Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." "Nothing." points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with must compliment you." and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City had no one to advise her at such a crisis." Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he "No good news?" Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he points to suicide?" 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." assist you in forming an opinion." hour." for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely "It is to him that this trophy belongs." handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. "How did you deduce the select?" come either from the window or the door. My attention was room. "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across "No, my brougham is waiting." was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was your only hope of safety." which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his dead, shall be safe with us." know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? case before our client came into the room." understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. shall use the carriage to-night." "It came here." frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility other lovers by making love himself." "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I your most interesting statement." front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from official police." handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until the coronet in his hand?" "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly frequently gained my first real insight into the character of door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw the inner apartment." people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not there in twenty minutes." penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of "His face fell immediately. burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the "What is it, then--a fire?" caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in to talk it over. "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's strength in the others." the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any which are rolled in Rotterdam." she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing populous neighbourhood." there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. chamber." cigars in their mouths. upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I back alive. to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the