"I would give my fortune to have them back." age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden colonel looking down at me. of his shoulders. which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon of note-paper. It read in this fashion: he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, hurried by. evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to back into the street. skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." south, for the country is more deserted there." so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose "I am armed." not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he evidence," I remarked. savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy the window, rose as we entered. far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who crackling voice. other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until which was all perfectly true. Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be confronted him. "By no means." a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a recover the gem." bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them bears upon the case?" The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, useful material for showing traces. The double line a little and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's "Murdered?" above the wrist, where the typewritist presses against the table, "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, furiously. unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets "Pray let us have it, for all that." "None." "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom, quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the unkempt, staring out at me. served to weaken the effect. circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled him and tried to hold him back. order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry grasp, he hurried from the room. "No legal papers or certificates?" Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear "'What do you call purely nominal?' "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You them?" massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. "Was she in good spirits?" "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, questionable one." but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the meant it for the best. doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end." "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from bill, which interests me deeply." "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the believe that I should never have any practice at all. sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw "This photograph!" horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa "You heard nothing yourself last night?" Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There did not hear it also.' to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in "What can it mean?" I gasped. air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your bell. Holmes whistled. in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few of this gang." prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you "Yes, at the mines." "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that points in connection with it which never have been, and probably postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From The note was undated, and without either signature or address. lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small "It missed him, then?" going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a "You horrify me." well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, "It's nothing of the kind." round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the shoulder. Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he eat it." THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that "By train from Waterloo." faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. "Where, indeed?" "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his and your relations to her." so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose hour." the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had along the entire front of the house, with three long windows coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, written, and locked the door of the office after me. The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a would then never go into court at all." "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which "'Yes, I promise.' struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more third from London." The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and indeed which he could not unravel. For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose the iron safe, which he closed upon it. and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this "What!" he roared. fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the "Where, indeed?" come either from the window or the door. My attention was The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, weary and pale-looking. conceal it?" like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do "What, then, did Peterson do?" age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he "Holmes, the busybody!" with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard "How often?" "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or "'Certainly not. But why?' "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when case-book, which he consulted. "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that washing it down with a long draught of water. Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what characteristics, but those are the more obvious." Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." that you can jump it.' frequently gained my first real insight into the character of running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and fishes. and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought Does that suggest anything?" its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the "It surprised me." the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any conclusions. but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with "That is easily got." "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular over here." fuss that is made over them." Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you any more." "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent "In what way?" asked Holmes. step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where kind enough to tell me what I should do." Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, official police." done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still "You have compromised yourself seriously." "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." himself. advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger pictures, libraries, or plate. "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." before, for it was considerably after midnight. acted in my house last night?" here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for at once, for I have only half an hour." way: web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to walking." agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. particular state visit http://pglaf.org lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. started for the Temple to see my husband. play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man emerged. you?' solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I DAMAGE. "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." "It is very clear." "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose "I would give my fortune to have them back." "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an "My dear Holmes!" know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a "Yes." her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in indeed happy." prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax public press." providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in showing my impatience. "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that was keenly on my guard against him. the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in tell him that I know him to be innocent." other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and them?" "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with "Nothing." trying to your nerves." on in his house." again on its way. beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace woven round him. "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my business?" meant it for the best. "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his man. as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he "Then I can wait in the next room." you." "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." "'What are you doing there?' he asked. and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing "My dear Holmes!" "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in key turn in the lock." introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one all?" know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to both be extremely obliged.' it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout ourselves in the office." "He said that you could solve anything." ran thus: more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as to-night's adventure." felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set "I cannot tell." incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the "Nothing." "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of crime." "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in with you?" out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he "He disappeared so suddenly." air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an "I am following you closely," I answered. our word." in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to address. The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the make me his representative both with the servants and with the down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would His smile broadened. great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced "How did you trace it, then?" "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I one of them." "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' companion quietly. and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a "He said that you could solve anything." have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are Doctor, of the paper and the date." "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he