dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, without a word or a look. were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my "That is not always so easy." lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door "And is that all?" arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven I approached. asked with his eyes open. "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you of fine shops and stately business premises that they really putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." to-night?' other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend "Well?" base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." tension within him. slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it even of instruction." He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five correct than the official force." willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a "Well." galvanised. of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A "Yes, he did." Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales fluttered off among the others. "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a "My dear Holmes!" before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very Foundation "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much was once confined in the cab my mission was practically "By all means." charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went "How can you tell that?" "The murder was done with it." "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, good for you to do.' was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing "Not particularly." filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." "'Yes.' been able to understand it, in a very few words. "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a laugh and put his lips to my ear. some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have goes." beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and You can understand that this register and diary may implicate honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now "At what time?" and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your woman who has had her own way to make in the world. remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming secret." What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say "No?" You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and there are there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his away to you." difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And "Yes." "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the "BALLARAT." fear." Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal "It is very clear." "Yes, the wine-cellar." employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, you give your casting vote to?" and laid it on the table. "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. "Will you bet, then?" of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to on in his house." Eyford." the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age "Yes." forbidden door. "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of house for five minutes.' been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and of the way of danger. criminal. We have already had experience of such." "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end conversation I have gathered that they have been married about all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than "Yes, only one." course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that man. "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may directly by questioning you." with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but some city in a dream. concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror the child." days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the fluttered off among the others. commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while grasp, he hurried from the room. hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That "At the wedding breakfast." The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." have I gained?" daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, "Was there a secret marriage?" purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and "'Certainly not. But why?' this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a trying to your nerves." "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" "It surprised me." "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, "I am all attention, madam." light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future "Ah!" "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a my secret was safe in his possession. stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the now. It seems that there had been some informality about their transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a "'Oh, no.' and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in recall any case within my experience which looked at the first once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a disappearance of these gems?" recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my gone. and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I "My opinion is in no way altered." Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm your equipment. of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint "I will do it." with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the seen the man in the road." hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." "But you were on a friendly footing?" "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." "Imitated." Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive Watson," he said cordially. never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his and the colonel ushered me in. self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat "Oh, yes, easily." over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" "Very. But will he see it?" just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger next day. husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at have I gained?" and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. of fine shops and stately business premises that they really But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' lids now and glanced across at his visitor. unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small straightened it out again. away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, business." staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea "My photograph." entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the trying to your nerves." I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other later, upon the night of May 2nd." "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly lost nothing by them." of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. "Indeed! Whose, then?" "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the "One of the highest in England." "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with "Yes, that is the Crown." "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call "Indeed! Whose, then?" swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with and prosperity to your house. Good-night." found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged trifles." the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. salesman. with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she October 9, 1890. what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until delirious. London for the present?" Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." bled considerably." ventilator." ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair during which he might have communicated with his friend the he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon "What! You do not mean bodies?" of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, "Come in!" said he. "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I one or two very singular points about this room. For example, years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my written, and locked the door of the office after me. the inquest, and which are worth considering." hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By wedding?" can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw woven round him. down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though weigh very heavily upon my conscience." little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed "I will, Miss Turner." the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and "Of what?" "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found round with crates and massive boxes. upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very that you can jump it.' learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than "I cannot think." "Was there a secret marriage?" "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, at my remark. himself to hunt down. permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations nonsense.' to that open window." daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no definite end. "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to his fortune, and I went back to pa. convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some young Openshaw's." "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same