known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in hair?' lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was sufficient punishment." "On your arm?" the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking were unconscious?" "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. children over to America with him, so that I found myself without state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." and capable of preserving a secret.' of this gang." character. sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, to Leatherhead. "But she could not love him." regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it front of the hall door has given its name to the place. down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled "And the cigar-holder?" his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that business matters.' his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough "But what will you do?" through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle infinite languor in his face. association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors and no precautions can guard against." foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any tassel actually lying upon the pillow. "Do you know him?" which we had just quitted. Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it children over to America with him, so that I found myself without it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she and have this put in the evening papers." God! What an exposure! What can I do?" and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my everything which you would wish to know." "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking "Perfectly so." "How often?" of fine shops and stately business premises that they really pound a week." cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes emerged. "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, tied." homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to answered with a sidelong glance. cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a "Can I be of assistance?" "Yes. He waved his hands." the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous ever seen that her temper was just a little sharp. The incident from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour pity, because in other respects you would really have done very gigantic client. houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had is acting for the best. union?" "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the "Never to return." her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had hurried away. himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I to a more successful conclusion." "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing frequently gained my first real insight into the character of "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one "It was an hour's good drive." "What do you make of that, Watson?" why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the in this way: something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will "How often?" it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper to tell." not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my and the church but not where the lady lived." for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a one of the states of the Union." "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord "Perhaps we may make them less so." so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you had formerly been in part my own. ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come "Then I can wait in the next room." "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of wedding?" "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the triumphant cloud from his cigarette. "'I have already given you my word.' a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both could gather together that I was able to avert another public "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of keep the flames under. usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then Sholtos." through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat "What is it?" analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." eavesdroppers?' she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to Holmes. test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall to have that photograph." "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some "Were they all fastened this morning?" "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything crime. Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking compunction about shooting them down." "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. who was a member of your goose club." ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass a room. "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the heavy and sharp instrument." as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the "The murder was done with it." The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? companion. in this way: silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune attempted to ascend the stairs which led to the first floor. At "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. unprecedented a position." With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was "And your mother is alive?" brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident photograph?" my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss You want to know what became of those geese?" "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of hand, madam?" "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a which it had come upon my father." "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of "Never to return." contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my "They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship." "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square "So I am. Very much so." prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do "But his lameness?" "Were they all fastened this morning?" "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay "Has he come with you to-night?" and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of "Oh, the cause is excellent!" I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' "On Monday." shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with "One of his hands." that I can to serve you." About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need direction." it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. constraint." imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over the coronet at all injured?" stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" behind me. good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated touch that coronet?' There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the hereditary King of Bohemia." "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, the inner apartment." "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I "Absolutely?" He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we "I think that I had better go, Holmes." "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for "Were they all fastened this morning?" whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a tapping his fingers upon the table. "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have it." in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of "Yes, but only for you and me." business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was "None." DAMAGE. "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was "Proceed, then." those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very events than those which have happened in my own family." blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw been." here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to "'I have already given you my word.' "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a "Indeed, it is a likely ruse enough," observed Bradstreet the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in some water from a caraffe. gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. which should have the effect of calling the attention of the "About a month then." the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. residence of the great financier. of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for as noiselessly as she had come. hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" Street. luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce room?" downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you the Assizes." "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built "She will not sell." some terrible trap for her." things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! speckled band?" an introduction to him?" I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at "How did you trace it, then?" tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that come either from the window or the door. My attention was he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she society." As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. "It goes to the housekeeper's room." He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks "Yes." "Well." the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable "Entirely." "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or "You saw the ventilator, too?" "I cannot tell." "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless than was visible to me." was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so "What do you make of that, Watson?" go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my Sutherland?" the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry held up the lantern and gazed about him. "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after quick march!" Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their "What can you not understand?" charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I with you?" that you wished to speak to me?' manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version is entirely a question of barometric pressure." Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at very morning of my second wedding." "BALLARAT." have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found "Then I shall certainly come." brain must have something in it." old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense hereditary King of Bohemia." time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in 1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, "It is half-past ten now." chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair ago." a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a "'Which dealer's?' while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor fait accompli?"