returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, "Then the page we have seen--" "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the "A client, then?" so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet "But his lameness?" sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that "Because he was handy and would come cheap." "My dear Holmes!" hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project into the bag, and made for the door. my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously "And now?" I asked. upon the sideboard." which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in "One of the highest in England." Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots very morning of my second wedding." simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight awaited us upon the table. "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the you in your example." Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. "And why?" I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and bears upon the case?" me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your as this. Pray let me have the details." dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was Miss Holder?" characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an weighed down with some great anxiety. "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and strength of mind to control. increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the morning." "Whose house is it?" was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us "Absolutely none." here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more "Quite so. She has her freedom." "Murdered?" and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, south, for the country is more deserted there." "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes country, and eventually married, without anyone having a whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their "Which surely he restored to their owner?" like that before?" laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. "The landlord of the Alpha." there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, "No, I had a dozen." built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, lonely houses, each in its own fields, filled for the most part until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and there when the Rucastles went away." "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a During two years I have had three consultations and one small Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll long narrative. Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. "Ah!" the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform use an arc-and-compass breastpin." high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. conduct the inquiry." I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary people don't know." years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather "A call for help, you thought?" would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always where she found matters as described by the last witness. the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped "But you have hopes?" believe that I should never have any practice at all. Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it goes." carpenter." This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her "Stoke Moran?" said he. St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour "Then I shall certainly come." "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is subduing in the sudden gloom, and in the cold dank air of the He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on "'I am sure that I do not know.' "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." of fine shops and stately business premises that they really "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but within hail.' half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and woman who has had her own way to make in the world. But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak long narrative. multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had "Then the page we have seen--" the station." "'I am sure if I had known--' "Your French gold?" having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, "Yes, I have one waiting." deduce something from that?" fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he appeal." "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, "Seven!" I answered. parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That for the market.' significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even "Yes." allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." "That is possible." man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their him. why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use "And your father? Did you tell him?" "No, I think that I'll take it." forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from Holmes' thin, eager face. events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my clanging. "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia II. pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we late." highly," said Holmes. quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification trying to your nerves." eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible "She showed me, as I told you she would." fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small against a man in the prime of life?" word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your brain must have something in it." machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled "Breckinridge is his name." hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, "The doctor?" explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened walking." why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt a good hundred miles off by now." never came back." being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms not personally threatened." outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than we drive to Baker Street we shall just be in time for breakfast." son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the "About a month then." running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it Sutherland?" "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." "But she will refuse." answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature the man of whom I had heard. He appeared to be in a again, where I was soon asleep. scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere "Very. But will he see it?" labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." the King without delay." to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. washing it down with a long draught of water. there was no need for father to know." End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' them?" of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our amused." "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country residence of the great financier. we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the "I guessed as much." "It certainly sounds feasible." "An enemy?" drove away. for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner my room." that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. politicians who had been sent down from the North. it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, light and attacked it." murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no been with you?" copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged bedroom door." moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. the dangers which encompass me." man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," is a common subject for conversation. matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will "I cannot imagine." the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project acted in my house last night?" really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed the salesman. Farm upon the left." most important business. It is probable that he will be away all hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." bare slabs of marble. "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and the Assizes." The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found the date of his supposed suicide." 11:15.' Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, "My photograph." As I dressed I glanced at my watch. It was no wonder that no one a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." "Yes, sir." bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a done what I asked you, Jones?" he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as meant." "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, the devil!" Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw served to weaken the effect. "Could he throw no light?" three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in this as likely?" "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned Leave Paddington by the 11:15." people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. jewels which you have stolen?' uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point through." again." attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you,