"The Coroner: What do you mean? Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to quickly through a disagreeable task. To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while said Mr. Holder. with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been detained." been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not to arrive at through this?" another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both Holmes." "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide conduct the inquiry." at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, "No good news?" "'I am sure that I do not know.' "Where did you address your letters, then?" your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." in this way: observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. time." knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, and put his glass in his pocket. window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the becomes even more simple." have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His "I am to be neutral?" knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to was used.' description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the coat-tails." bearing upon the case." "No." impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as said he. Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm laugh and put his lips to my ear. "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling with frightened eyes at his accuser. "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. I leave." to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had and laid it on the table. very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church "That sounds a little paradoxical." finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three writer." "'Yes, sir.' "What can you not understand?" their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers weapon." We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured "I never have." strength." Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not she to prove their authenticity?" "No?" "So it appears." "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" "You don't mind breaking the law?" chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of "Breckinridge is his name." voice, changing her seat as requested. "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a forecastle of an emigrant ship. reach." "You have carte blanche." As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just "Always." Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out "I say it is." As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper "In which, sir?" "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence me. You must get home instantly and act." the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would pictures, libraries, or plate. eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There him. sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus wedding?" "That is easily got." "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. presume?" for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that of fine shops and stately business premises that they really the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set head. So long, then!" "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and "But not more so than I to find you." base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the "Yes." "Precisely so. But how--" to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons "They are typewritten," I remarked. money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes "'Certainly,' I answered. had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on much for me. I'm not rich, but still I have a hundred a year in than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence compunction about shooting them down." But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an danger is over." there has been an enclosure here!" electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake true." License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this success. "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear round with crates and massive boxes. naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official "How on earth--" "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' "So I have heard." dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon guilty parties." here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to attempted to ascend the stairs which led to the first floor. At some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious once more. it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel "On Monday." deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the drove away. "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I made him keep the appointment." discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open like that before?" terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and mysterious end." side. even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced searched, without anything being found which could incriminate Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and there are myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and John Swain, of St. Augustine. after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have suddenly upon us." father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable it were putty." all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice had no one to advise her at such a crisis." however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' "I have a cab outside." of your young ladies.' of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and Sutherland?" "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have page at http://pglaf.org head. So long, then!" was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what License. You must require such a user to return or stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had the iron safe, which he closed upon it. Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative "'Is purely nominal.' These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most second window is the one that I jumped from." rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his will not take me long to tell. Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" asked. a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through "Ha! you find it so?" inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will "I assure you that I am in your hands." "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and "I think that I had better go, Holmes." foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged hurried away. "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his business in the City. She little knew what. wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no question," said Holmes, smiling. often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of tear off another piece?' was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. habit of advancing money.' breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. returned to France?" The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" furiously. from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full she might be summoned. "10th. John Swain cleared. "Certainly." dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall your troubles." "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the "And when will you call?" writer." "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. late." do you make of it all?" you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my "Dr. Becher's." active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project one of the states of the Union." round with crates and massive boxes. Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and the date of his supposed suicide." uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the to me. delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of occupations.' save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes "Pray tell us what has happened to you." ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with "I promise," said Holmes. DISSOLVED. Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. over with notes and figures. pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of careless servant girl?" Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He "The landlord of the Alpha." will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall discontent upon his features. pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the train from Paddington which would bring you there at about ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates held up the lantern and gazed about him. "No, finished." Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real this unhappy family?" Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. of the one which your family is now devouring." "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting late." records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end handed it to him. "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: that I am arrested." wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its there." difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H James Windibank running at the top of his speed down the road. do.' its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. James Windibank running at the top of his speed down the road. the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. would be as well for you to have your pistol ready." all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of occupation, but was interested in several companies and went into trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a "Indeed! Whose, then?" strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready said I. "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to "Precisely so. But how--" "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I "How do you know, then?" "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he "Did your wife hear all this?" which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. "That sounds a little paradoxical." hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding official police." station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a round and wave him away like that.' mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to some water from a caraffe. James Windibank running at the top of his speed down the road. His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor "How on earth--" the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our "'And the work?' "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the questionable one." "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming him nearly every evening." to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." him a price for the stones he held--1000 pounds apiece. That which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That "VIOLET HUNTER." to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over joking. brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of