drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first "It is no ordinary one." which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." laugh and put his lips to my ear. so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously "That also I could fathom." Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, children over to America with him, so that I found myself without might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it "It is very clear." his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have "Witness: Nothing definite. 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he coffee, for I observe that you are shivering." greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small "Then I shall certainly come." "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. later, upon the night of May 2nd." is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect unapproachable from that side. Now, would you have the kindness equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped "But I am all in the dark." accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the "Yes, he did." Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower voice, changing her seat as requested. tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing colonel looking down at me. minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other cigars in the box." the coronet at all injured?" paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so "But how?" among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low enter into my head. copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of heavy and sharp instrument." "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to "Very murderous indeed." I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." allusion to a rat. what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you pressing in one house as in another. "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and fire. You quite follow me?" astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk not use it unless it is absolutely needed." matter over." "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we "Entirely." whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." "None." impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the gives a meaning to it." But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point "What is it, then--a fire?" "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to business." will not take me long to tell. the Red-headed League." time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do "I will try. What is it?" "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you in the hope of finding them." kind enough to tell me what I should do." "Ah, but I was recommended to you." See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the little adventures." first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter "You have a clue?" he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his of us, she gave a cry of hope which sank into a groan as she saw to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons enter Dr. Roylott's room." by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of Holmes' face clouded over. whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. in him." away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with maiden herself was most instructive." the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I direction." must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a said I. What do you deduce from it?" "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, Clair, of Lee." "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a "Where, then?" conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. them, and came down just as you departed. the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. the Red-headed League." papers diligently of late, have you not?" "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. triumphant cloud from his cigarette. Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter You want to know what became of those geese?" had picked up in the wood. "And leave your case unfinished?" eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend suspect him." Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found very old mansion. on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque "Stolen." "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I you." "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my "At what time?" "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, "My opinion is in no way altered." "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in with the outside air!" contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the Edgeware Road. fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the "'Entirely.' the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, Eyford at 11:15.' pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, just called myself is not exactly my own." your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should "No good news?" "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and Holmes' face clouded over. is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst "What, then?" destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was distinguish the words: paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past drawing your inferences." Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend ill-usage at the hands of fortune. me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, the coronet in his hand?" should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had least a most suspicious remark." edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two orange pips. which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or "What, then?" is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. "An accident, I presume?" Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." fear." "No. His orders were to stay in the house." chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its "Not in the least." "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his crackling voice. companion. "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as golden eyeglasses. the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be to a light-house. seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after "'How far from the body?' stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly "I don't say that. Perhaps." "We were both in the photograph." be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and few hundred pounds.' "How many? I don't know." is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either "'I have already given you my word.' magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next "How about poison?" "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had evidence," I remarked. "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" are, and they are waiting for us." "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing be sorry for having acted so harshly." "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was look dissatisfied." lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his here." firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to "Absolutely none." "Entirely." loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began "'Ten to two.' "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had to tell." A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but will not take me long to tell. "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the Watson," he said cordially. horse could go." Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed "And is that all?" The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and call it cruel." took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and the bottom.' following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found "I am armed." would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and locked. in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads yourselves in at night?" chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with four million human beings all jostling each other within the already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed gone before you can get him to hospital." into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is outside. carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned "Was your sister dressed?" "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon "If I can be of use." heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as "Well, it is a possible supposition." "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a had this final quarrel? to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' "What, then, did Peterson do?" learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. "Ten will be early enough." note?" that?' outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." "Of what?" "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." "Yes, the wine-cellar." "And how did you verify them?" thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations dates and names. settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you "'What are you doing there?' he asked. "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I bears upon the case?" official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in "'Tell me all about it,' said I. had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this "Thank you. And your address?" balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, to-morrow." "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is For additional contact information: in your London, you will know that the office of the company is have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been conduct the inquiry." banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with best detective that ever lived. him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is