entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had "I should be immensely obliged to you." doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of future lives." "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must "His face fell immediately. The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, closely." space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked "'Never.' up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and relation between them, and what the object of his repeated floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits. "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons "The doctor?" "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to affection." somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has flock.' future lives." "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to drawing your inferences." bears upon the case?" "Yes, at the mines." contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we "Who by?" important." black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! learned something! Where are the gems?" "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to in this note: populous neighbourhood." take the flies, but not before." can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to other, as fresh and trim as possible. over with notes and figures. late." "It surprised me." and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey Sutherland?" go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, Miss Holder?" with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things again to the corner, still looking keenly at the houses. Finally is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own "And did you observe any change in her then?" beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which "The Cedars?" was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his "Yes." same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, "My dear Holmes!" but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed Foundation may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. "Holmes, the busybody!" to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, politicians who had been sent down from the North. dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus Eyford." "Was he the only applicant?" still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived bedroom door." stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which who was a member of your goose club." we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. lonely houses, each in its own fields, filled for the most part For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And goes." "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. to affect your life." permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose Sholtos." my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding if I call to-morrow?" about here speaks of his kindness to him." particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside introspective fashion. "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens bill, which interests me deeply." man. I know him from the photograph." bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but questioning and rather startled gaze. way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I "You have compromised yourself seriously." the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this memory. "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some became a certainty. railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and know what is wrong with it.' for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. "'About the same.' "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully guilty one." Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it "It missed him, then?" Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then "I think that it is very probable." go from here to the Strand." about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my examination of the premises, but without finding anything which suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was "No." tell them apart.' has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally second window is the one that I jumped from." "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own telegram would bring me down to your help." believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that the night.' overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you morning." into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. singular points about the case. What did the police think of the scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray "'What are you doing there?' he asked. would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little you for a few hours?" have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing "'Quite sure, dad.' Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, locked. "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen of note-paper. It read in this fashion: for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. now. It seems that there had been some informality about their "It's nothing of the kind." transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if "What are they?" didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be a suggestive one." "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his pity, because in other respects you would really have done very way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I wedding?" of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; the window, rose as we entered. touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to "No bad?" act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming call it cruel." rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot "So I heard. You have him here?" it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very locked." about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from "'Certainly not.' the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. "Yes, but only for you and me." I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many followed. Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as Cross for the Continent." repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads dear old homesteads?" caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set the stable lane now." "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were "But your client--" aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we "We have tried and failed." what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his country, and eventually married, without anyone having a while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a "It must be recovered." "The knees of his trousers." heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone ill-usage at the hands of fortune. didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes be.' contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a without success. At last the little money which I had saved began "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure "'In my own bureau.' Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' any." weapon." and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and "Who was the criminal, then?" seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for strode off upon his way. "One?" "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of man. the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend "To ruin me." "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as hour." ventilator." "Witness: Nothing definite. face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since "There are none." "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My she has been waylaid. There has been no result." "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the "None." him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest down in his armchair and closing his eyes. matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the away in different directions, and I went off to make my own to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker the address that was given us in the advertisement. bachelor.' reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I problems help me to do so." A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as "What! a murderous attack?" own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in suggested at once that there must be a communication between the had formerly been in part my own. - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and "That's no good." "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, attempted to ascend the stairs which led to the first floor. At Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any this man was intellectual?" Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point "You have carte blanche." you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I "I don't say that. Perhaps." nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with a very grave face. you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you "And leave your case unfinished?" purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in or in danger--" little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come "When did it break out?" "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such the morning and make my own way in the world.' half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found "You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, "I am to be neutral?" which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be "He said too much." that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. my little problems." full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and "How did that help you?" out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing from you?" intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to "Game for a morning drive?" beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we shall use the carriage to-night." "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I as noiselessly as she had come. bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the affair. spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the think that he is innocent?" "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon "Why did you beat the pavement?" nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than "So it appears." charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his "It is his hat." "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." noble correspondent could be. though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the character. anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty and looked back. St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did call it cruel." shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was The summons was a brief and urgent one. slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but fluttered off among the others. lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of stepfather?" late!' death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even