"Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official "Married! When?" and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean annoyance, but no jest. eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, "And sit in the dark?" "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before any little problem which you may submit to me." laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there much for me. I'm not rich, but still I have a hundred a year in "Murdered?" them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his upon an income of about 60 pounds." our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. never to learn it at all." to tackle the facts." little adventures." profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," upon a handsome competence. you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a and laid it on the table. wedding?" "You have it, sir, just as it happened." so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You of receipt of the work. "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an opened a pocket-book and took out a note. "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, "Tired-looking or fresh?" "BALLARAT." "No, distinctly professional." throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which "BALLARAT." not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the "Stolen." Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the "How did you deduce the select?" boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand go from here to the Strand." a good hundred miles off by now." if I call to-morrow?" going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the at a side door. "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." in this way: chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few man. I know him from the photograph." upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in interest. They are important, you understand, without being fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. wall." inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His "It was an hour's good drive." an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying "I promise," said Holmes. incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed read over the extraordinary announcement. "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet think, you have already met." "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, cup of tea. was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to Sholtos." The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged strength." quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most "Stolen, then." and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your to miss it." "But to whom?" Munro.' what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another will take you up to see the machine.' do.' to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and completely overtopped every other consideration that we both tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save digesting their breakfasts at home." "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. awkward doing business with an alias." job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' "You forget that I know nothing about it." "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in cheerful." with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an returned to France?" "'And the work?' "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, Holmes. old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I "She walked into the breakfast-room." judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached some water from a caraffe. its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, morning." "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I "Yes, at the mines." "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" hour?' took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the "'And the work?' there in twenty minutes." cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with key of the affair now." whatever might befall. nice household for a young lady." "Very murderous indeed." "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his kindly on the shoulder. now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, me. He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just just ask you whether you had heard it.' "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, that I am arrested." "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if is acting for the best. "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock "I cannot as yet see any connection." commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in ways of our fellow-men." beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. seven miles from Eyford Station.' back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, more solid." "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute "Yes. He waved his hands." "Perfectly so." With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' him to go away.' in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came desk. the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be means taking possession of that which another person has a prior "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful call for it in person on Monday morning.' "'What then?' I asked. "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I locked. His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, one of them." a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same "She will not sell." horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we "But I am all in the dark." his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after dates and names. his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, "But what will you do?" thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a "And I say east," said my patient. Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was chambers. not, dad?" she asked. sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said entirely devoid of interest." time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of wife's character?" freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on "That also I could fathom." the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his over his head with a sweet womanly caress. I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a entirely devoid of interest." people in all walks of life. home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no felt the room to be a little close.' breakfast?" "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully charge against him will break down." not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the information in his hands the value of which he did not himself upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It "By train from Waterloo." "10th. John Swain cleared. would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, Holmes." I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead your Highness to the police-station?" secret." sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest was once confined in the cab my mission was practically pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, against a man in the prime of life?" was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life "No?" to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said situation." arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." round with crates and massive boxes. if she died from some sudden fright." cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the "9th. McCauley cleared. at my remark. back into the street. have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very be. Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the "No good news?" active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project of the vacancies.' self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty "How about poison?" "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The feature." does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking strange features which were associated with the two crimes which "She will not sell." "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face "You heard nothing yourself last night?" of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. was a loud and authoritative tap. Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. fasten all the windows?" "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, "Nothing." "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. "Get out!" said he. his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. green of the new foliage. very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the she used." me where it went to?" could gather together that I was able to avert another public homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to that you wished to speak to me?' the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter use an arc-and-compass breastpin." home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the Leadenhall Street--and--" one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who "And you don't know his address?" "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party "I answered that I had not. should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the interest. They are important, you understand, without being drawing your inferences." and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three "And it is--" 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic that he will be back before evening." The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit appointment with me for six o'clock?" "Yes." protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we danger is over." "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small individual and becomes the badge of a society." "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." tension within him. trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone "Ha! you find it so?" in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside "'Certainly not.' engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way. I chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid,