tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." at my own good fortune. "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you "But his left-handedness." "Stoke Moran?" said he. Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our think that he is innocent?" very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your sparkled upon his finger. are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day shall not find me ungrateful." occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened "'And what salary do you ask?' "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, constraint." of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from means taking possession of that which another person has a prior "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are "10th. John Swain cleared. his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when You can understand that this register and diary may implicate interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is not as remarkable as your advertisement." before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you again to the corner, still looking keenly at the houses. Finally "Yes, all." footfalls from the street. evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the to talk it over. metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' "'What, the red-headed man?' on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second "And what did you see?" swore that no one else had been in the front room during the soul! here is her carriage at the door." "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back memory. cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's to that open window." partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the the coroner come to?" were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to meanly of me." never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your Holmes. gigantic client. days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my see a sister of mine apply for." journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest more terrible than the truth. was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very the salesman. showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? useful material for showing traces. The double line a little "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, up this clue while it is still hot." Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal As I dressed I glanced at my watch. It was no wonder that no one rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and "But how will you look?" I have it here in my museum." "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have Street. "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the "I think it very unlikely." have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them make me his representative both with the servants and with the "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured "'Most admirably.' "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he "'And the work?' "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the views." not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite "It may not come to that," said Holmes. or other trace. But how on earth--" other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and "None. Neville wrote those words." who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive carriage. It was a chestnut." by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of side. and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, individual and becomes the badge of a society." any little problem which you may submit to me." said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to easy-going way." elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out "And Miss Sutherland?" coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker nothing with him." the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the "And now?" I asked. "Why, what do you mean?" week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become there was no need for father to know." remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom "And who is her maid?" Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as relief. a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might "I think that I had better go, Holmes." "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his should be taken.' with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," washing it down with a long draught of water. I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is official police." "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my main points of my analysis." ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just cause to be." together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported the address that was given us in the advertisement. "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite man. I know him from the photograph." Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, "I have solved it." "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as "I don't believe it." the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent my former friend and companion. "Who by?" "Oh, the cause is excellent!" fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. allusion to a rat. greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a "What is the meaning of it all, Mr. Holmes?" Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you the coronet at all injured?" shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been be sorry for having acted so harshly." when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of "You saw the ventilator, too?" They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had "Yes." the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was to have that photograph." "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" "How long did she speak to this Alice?" "What steps will you take?" I asked. black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an frequently gained my first real insight into the character of the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the awaited us upon the table. "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last look upon these things in a different way." from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into words came to my lips. walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very "And how in the world did you find them?" there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My "Not particularly." prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the the coronet at all injured?" "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. "Yes, the wine-cellar." - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free "Married! When?" in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him opened a pocket-book and took out a note. attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips weighed down with some great anxiety. "Have you her photograph?" "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She easy-going way." reach." know what is wrong with it.' his face which made him a very different person to the round, to you." would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and particular state visit http://pglaf.org "And sit in the dark?" voice. his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." man. I know him from the photograph." often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable married her." "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. "And I say east," said my patient. hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. him to go away.' question you as to those details which seem to me to be most although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that question," said Holmes, smiling. long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his face and glided from the room. British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who his grey eyes. "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, one or two very singular points about this room. For example, "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into "Then you may be so with me." "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I "But what will you do?" accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, rose-bushes. persecution?" 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in 809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss be.' "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we "I shall most certainly do so." of note-paper. It read in this fashion: "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; What do you deduce from it?" companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest relief. unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the asked with his eyes open. robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a "'Then let me do so?' first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may everything which you would wish to know." black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. strong reason behind." "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had the best of training." "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you I held the little printed slip to the light. Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an upon the shelf for the interim." the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One not use it unless it is absolutely needed." gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were photograph a cabinet?" quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, foot. previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve