she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we "They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship." Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest stepfather?" habit of advancing money.' was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point bachelor.' points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of go--none." "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this "The King of Scandinavia." The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my to have that photograph." "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a becomes even more simple." undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from means taking possession of that which another person has a prior "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. thin, with a long, sharp nose?" along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped "Her father is very rich?" loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce Lestrade of Scotland Yard." about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. we drive to Baker Street we shall just be in time for breakfast." "Very. But will he see it?" Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, The summons was a brief and urgent one. Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic in the dead of the night?' meant." fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" the house with me." "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. tell him that I know him to be innocent." was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just "And why?" and it need not interfere very much with one's other "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE "Not social, then?" address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay "My dear Holmes!" "Thank you. And your address?" furiously. Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great the driver. stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular "'Is 4 pounds a week.' "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into his wife has ceased to love him." his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take grasp, he hurried from the room. the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys you have a quick eye for colour. Never trust to general We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to to go into your room and bar your shutters?" number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin "I cannot imagine." very old mansion. coat-tails." throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself "Why did you pick him?" one or two very singular points about this room. For example, nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every mystery." collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, even of instruction." where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, again." "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he "'I have already given you my word.' "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. "'Yes, I promise.' was a loud and authoritative tap. means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my back to my heart. "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's point in the dark hollow of his hand. him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and it? Did I buy the geese off you?" to have been novel and of interest." few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from "Imitated." "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my http://gutenberg.net/license). out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." such person." his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her "It is solved." light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that the inquest, and which are worth considering." that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no "How long did she speak to this Alice?" in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I "Do you go out much in society?" "Which surely he restored to their owner?" maiden herself was most instructive." "ARAT," I read. morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" fire. You quite follow me?" all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private details should find their way into the papers. Inspector felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who "You have carte blanche." "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you to his chemical studies. out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to "Thank you. Pray proceed." prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing "What then?" permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, "Where to?" companion imperturbably. smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue she might be summoned. we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. in the dead of the night?' I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of certainly not very gracious." "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and in your London, you will know that the office of the company is Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner his huge brown hands. adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon "It was." one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as learned something! Where are the gems?" dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, "Then, as to money?" dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw I held the little printed slip to the light. "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of remarked. which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, house for five minutes.' "I was afraid that you were engaged." go from here to the Strand." vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that may never be exposed to such a temptation." here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project away to you." "Not him." "May I see it?" conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A made him keep the appointment." the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big "But you were on a friendly footing?" "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, hereditary King of Bohemia." however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a Surrey." everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of tail." uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same "You think so, too?" Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, and prosperity to your house. Good-night." This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" again, where I was soon asleep. of it with the greatest attention. "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," asked. however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge conduct the inquiry." "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But politicians who had been sent down from the North. maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the served to weaken the effect. business." salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That learned something! Where are the gems?" "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it tell them apart.' "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not wedding?" "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped goes." corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply behind me. He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. were new raised from a basin. "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have in darkness. I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had "Yes." Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not she used." to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way. I that there was nothing in it, after all." "But how did you gain them?" constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." License. You must require such a user to return or servant-maids--joined in a general shriek of "Fire!" Thick clouds established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing shoulder; "he's all right." than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and front of the hall door has given its name to the place. have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the in his hands." "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek "Well?" with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all "Not yet." face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent "I will do it." Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting "What can you not understand?" It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you himself. took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a empty. accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when "I will not look." "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" kind enough to tell me what I should do." nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose "That is not always so easy." "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" 'I should be able to look after that for you.' Farm upon the left." "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case "VIOLET HUNTER." Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did throat." "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it too. "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" that you saw all that I did." the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a "It looks newer than the other things?" coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that "'What are you doing there?' he asked. again, where I was soon asleep. laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining may have an influence upon European history." until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending "I have come for advice." "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some