from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' thought that she would have been so carried away." so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's a few minutes he said that it would be all right. "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in "Yes, but only for you and me." to tackle the facts." "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his room?" her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by "Of Friday, June 19th." many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off "'Ample.' coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an amused." word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project this poor creature." several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical me, and I could not think that his explanation of the Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away will not take me long to tell. "Upon what point?" A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" amused." knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he your co-operation." discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the "Stolen, then." them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I prove to be little relation between the different incidents of A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove intrusion of other matters." letters?" course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect "Yes." profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the "Now, then, what's the last entry?" to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my "To ruin me." inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom and capable of preserving a secret.' face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a it right.' though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE 1.F. "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight carriage. It was a chestnut." second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to meanly of me." way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church been shamefully used." say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." instituted." prisoner's face. Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and newspaper selections." mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding been deceived." at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air "Awake, Watson?" he asked. "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The is four-and-twenty." "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" bled considerably." truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such plantation.' came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house "That is unusual in a young girl." of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her the salesman. "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock paper in the air. this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress vault. the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their strength in the others." "Yes." "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry Street. Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," "What do you mean?" money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in persecution?" centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the Edgeware Road. "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine "'About the same.' before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or other means.' "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this "A call for help, you thought?" staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the "Not I." jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I "Never to return." "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to roused himself from his reverie. "I don't say that. Perhaps." people in all walks of life. 11:15.' off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This "'The work appears to be light and the pay munificent.' "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, tassel actually lying upon the pillow. "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. away to you." should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among "But to whom?" How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a problems help me to do so." dead, shall be safe with us." not personally threatened." merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the "An enemy?" "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a answer." William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both most interesting one." at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for Pope's Court, Fleet Street." "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow it. first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the "Yes." lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event "What office?" of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague His name is Francis Prosper." brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its chamber." recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an "You forget that I know nothing about it." are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for look upon these things in a different way." "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, "And is that all?" something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more "You know me, then?" "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near call for protection in the marriage market, for the present "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than and a shock of very red hair. "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will "So I have heard." have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been "Was there a secret marriage?" to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's depend upon my doing so.' "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your rose-bushes. "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each It was close upon four before the door opened, and a as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, 1.F. ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, Surrey." side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on "Your presence might be invaluable." newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers Holmes' room. his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had "'Not at all. I only doubt--' as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed all?" the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good even so self-evident a thing as that." which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my lamp. shall use the carriage to-night." "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the where Mr. Fordham shows you.' have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in "It is true that I have been generally successful." encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so union?" "I see many objections to any such theory." offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to "Then, as to money?" are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg strength of mind to control. "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There "Frequently." back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you "Who by?" "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, your troubles." forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and and files of the old papers, following the future career of every and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the "And the cigar-holder?" tail." remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst the very morning of the wedding." the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to "A call for help, you thought?" large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was constraint." robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of your troubles." He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted that the gas is not laid on in his house?" law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman come either from the window or the door. My attention was the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more "Did you observe the colour?" really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' call for it in person on Monday morning.' flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was "Then you may be so with me." foot. key turn in the lock." Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We "'Yes, sir.' Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking place of silver." jewels which you have stolen?' four million human beings all jostling each other within the Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the next day. out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his me. very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle everything which you would wish to know." together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, strength of mind to control. clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the some water from a caraffe. that I can to serve you." was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up "No, I think that I'll take it." been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly over here." and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly because she had spent so short a time in this country that she one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation straighten it?" felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are your own bird, so if you wish--" "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, carpenter." Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that a little more before I quite committed myself. all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." matters immensely." knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, wedding?" creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would with you alone." familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I written, and locked the door of the office after me. severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the next day. been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he call it cruel." "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the