"The Coroner: What did you understand by that? "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." fatally injured? waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on without a word or a look. the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to during which he might have communicated with his friend the snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, "Who by?" young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched "On Monday." clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some fact, we may call it conclusive." unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." "Just look it up, then." "That is easily got." asked with his eyes open. value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of manager. "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. me upon any point which I do not make clear." "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of tied." "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of families. Now for the facts. they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is "Yes." "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' "Pray do so." The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then "But you were on a friendly footing?" He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" in his hands." I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue tapping his fingers upon the table. problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the "'Tell me all about it,' said I. "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an child?' for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had or other trace. But how on earth--" least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the recall any case within my experience which looked at the first where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his wall." "Holmes, the busybody!" walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I distinguish the words: "Certainly." been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in "How long did she speak to this Alice?" this Miss Turner." wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be hurried away. how narrow had been my escape. "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never "I cannot imagine." "I came to find a friend." and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open without a word or a look. so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and from you?" "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me very old mansion. populous neighbourhood." trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to "I am sure." took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her "10th. John Swain cleared. object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from details should find their way into the papers. Inspector "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, other lovers by making love himself." My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining he. advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which "How many? I don't know." furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to the south-west, I see." in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. "You horrify me." Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you humiliation." your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so "Ample." thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if the warnings." whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER you want, then?' what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing The telegram which we eventually received came late one night was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and served to weaken the effect. I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with said I. back to my heart. "Witness: I must still refuse. after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in delighted to hear it," he said. me. the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it as this. Pray let me have the details." thin legs towards the fire. "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are Project Gutenberg-tm works. have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir shall not find me ungrateful." his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it at my remark. "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of shaken than I had ever seen him. "She showed me, as I told you she would." other, as fresh and trim as possible. highly," said Holmes. machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and "Can I be of assistance?" "To an English lawyer named Norton." obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. said he, "my real name is James Ryder." his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They "I have hopes." when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a III. the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet "What then?" "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. business." having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." very old mansion. "Who was the criminal, then?" would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked "Yes, it was twisted." Holmes' room. my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us wedding?" When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up foresight and the moral retrogression?" young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and matters immensely." would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can like that before?" she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small astonishment. Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting matters immensely." hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, "You have it, sir, just as it happened." violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual paper in the air. had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and not fit the lock." "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking this as likely?" towards the blaze. "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but she to prove their authenticity?" unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have bore every mark of being an average commonplace British "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet the morning and make my own way in the world.' down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the relief. name is different." old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over gigantic client. fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was your sleep?' which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended ventilator." the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was six. Come in!" gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets steps--for the house was none other than the opium den in which which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the goes." "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of "A client, then?" me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little I nodded to show that I had heard. before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich better grown goose." "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined written. the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate "Ah, but I was recommended to you." certainly not very gracious." the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself strength." - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. you understand?" Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and the window, rose as we entered. awkward doing business with an alias." "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean is," said he presently: right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and matters immensely." thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle whereabouts. Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in and looked back. there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room "And why?" mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than a room. "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet a monotonous occupation." "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and "No, thank goodness, she did not." possible that we could bring him back to her? firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, man. I know him from the photograph." "I cannot imagine." naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. before, for it was considerably after midnight. time." across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a "Very truly yours, think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and character. "And now?" He raised his hand. '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a room. without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was the best of training." even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. went to the Alpha were town bred." children over to America with him, so that I found myself without that you wished to speak to me?' Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both "Certainly." here and I will read it to you: previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, about here speaks of his kindness to him." of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in situation." "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't "He said too much." "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders "Yes, it would be as well." to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford "That is also quite modern," said the lady. and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would to where he stood hid behind the curtain. "Of Friday, June 19th." upon an income of about 60 pounds." supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated ventilator." figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a not personally threatened." have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You