me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round "If so, much may have happened between." "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it directors have had misgivings upon the subject." suggested at once that there must be a communication between the stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" "'There is a drive, then?' not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had his face which made him a very different person to the round, heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his out of this horrible affair." in the dead of the night?' this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an friend's singular character. "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his "What have you to say now?" it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his tightly behind him. Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me Does that suggest anything?" "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When feature." maid will bring up your coffee." The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, detective. toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the "It missed him, then?" and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout "We were both in the photograph." conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable Munro.' "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but what I may call a really hard day's work." "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered minor matters until to-morrow." the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That occupation, but was interested in several companies and went into Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of enough to aid us in our search." glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." there is a decided draught." "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked "Whose house is it?" carpenter." "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the very morning of my second wedding." 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a "'Which dealer's?' secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper a suggestive one." For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt "Yes." "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would south, for the country is more deserted there." that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a "'The work appears to be light and the pay munificent.' "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" American. Then who could this American be, and why should he set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any "You heard nothing yourself last night?" you understand?" street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler get her out of the way." the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. Eyford at 11:15.' perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, address. photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' the coronet in his hand?" "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in "My stepfather's business papers." finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was the coroner come to?" a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our "Awake, Watson?" he asked. know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed might help us?" "Yes, that is the Crown." as he remarks, very much against the son." Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, time." permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman conduct the inquiry." thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came not personally threatened." "You heard nothing yourself last night?" "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned "Have you her photograph?" gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just "'What then?' I asked. bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to and glanced through. pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week plantation.' that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, "Then, how do you know?" spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." pressing in one house as in another. reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. 'please.'" "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that plantation.' "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. "That is not always so easy." "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it "Indeed, it is a likely ruse enough," observed Bradstreet "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" "Pray continue your narrative." think that he is innocent?" "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying "What then?" leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over the room while you explain this matter?" took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they electronic works death." it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at good-night and bustled off upon her way. helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had what these perils are?" need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small "What I expected to see." the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his appeal." the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away gone before you can get him to hospital." more solid." "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is footfalls from the street. room?" from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning "Quite so. She has her freedom." and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property "When did she vanish, then?" utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman mystery!" his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my bearing upon the case." "I am following you closely," I answered. and have this put in the evening papers." first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious "Yes, from Horsham." and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be Eyford at 11:15.' and glanced through. step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you said I. had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you "Seven!" I answered. wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point "Yes." fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the suggested at once that there must be a communication between the "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." page at http://pglaf.org in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance that you wished to speak to me?' I have it here in my museum." suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the "How often?" wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." intrusion of other matters." and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be the bottom.' the iron safe, which he closed upon it. "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the unprofitable." to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were fluttered off among the others. believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being himself in a perplexing position. hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a I took the paper from him and read as follows: "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is said I. a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I "Then I can wait in the next room." for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." the matter." from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered less than 26s. 4d. rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I to tackle the facts." surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated "Where to?" "I shall be delighted." drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" But Holmes shook his head gravely. departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about his face which made him a very different person to the round, grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found conclusions. "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs "Where is it, then?" have established a very serious case against the son of the at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot "I will do it." The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as "My Mary? Impossible!" satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and "Stolen, then." stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, there were so many in the whole country as were brought together "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will From what you have told me I think that it is possible that "Only as much as we can deduce." latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out "What of the rat, then?" against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. Eyford." weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting visitors." and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely to take care of herself." the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his past. hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, front of me. his huge brown hands. "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" Henry Baker is a member." I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' "None." It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a "'Not at all. I only doubt--' astonishment. least a fellow-countryman. "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend "So it appears." and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, "Then I can wait in the next room." fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the stepfather?" do.' Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may "In San Francisco, a year ago." in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two information in his hands the value of which he did not himself matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact London for the present?" phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each soul! here is her carriage at the door." standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was infinite languor in his face. the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. I. Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he have had none more fantastic than this." When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up "'What do you call purely nominal?' other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At "'Quite sure, dad.' every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. Sholtos." "Was he the only applicant?" off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked closely." just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert some mystery and the punishment of some crime." "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has "But not more so than I to find you." Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." chemical work which was so dear to him. settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen the best of training." the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my all?" then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our way in everything. "How many? I don't know." dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have "That sounds a little paradoxical." other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon is worth.' him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to congenial hunt. thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were