read over the extraordinary announcement. I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, "We were both in the photograph." shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The way: "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, is worth.' unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a sake, don't!" heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how lumber-room." characteristics, but those are the more obvious." that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her I. "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman situation." our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I tapping his fingers upon the table. name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a "My photograph." rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my been lifted and conveyed somewhere." "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you people in all walks of life. miles off. himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the see me here to avoid scandal." "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do forebodings. out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice "'And what salary do you ask?' would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." "And help." "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become said I. England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he invisible to me," I remarked. "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." as this. Pray let me have the details." I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon "What of the rat, then?" "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave over here." impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little kindly on the shoulder. true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." have an American origin." did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of ways of our fellow-men." business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down meant." endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I question," said Holmes, smiling. "'And the work?' seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" stepfather?" lamp in his hand. had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, "What is the meaning of it all, Mr. Holmes?" people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not swore that no one else had been in the front room during the recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property in your London, you will know that the office of the company is of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than of us, she gave a cry of hope which sank into a groan as she saw "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so the corner. "I have had nothing else to do." wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." the tragedy. whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the "Then how many are there?" "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the http://www.gutenberg.net examine." than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress "It is true that I have been generally successful." instituted." Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such down in his armchair and closing his eyes. The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, "Will you bet, then?" "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very visitors." the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was "I know where it is." not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I meant." "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more mystery." possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it "But you can know nothing of this?" "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was "But how could you guess what the motive was?" frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in "I answered that I had not. address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling the ceiling. nothing of it?" the night.' cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done to change my dress. Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other what I may call a really hard day's work." heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and the very morning of the wedding." "But what is it you wish?" too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged most important business. It is probable that he will be away all eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by present strange and interesting features that it is no easy twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of wedding?" anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the pressing in one house as in another. "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. silent! Oh, he will be silent!' great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a subduing in the sudden gloom, and in the cold dank air of the like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; looking up at the numbers of the houses." coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." me where it went to?" is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or suggested at once that there must be a communication between the God! What an exposure! What can I do?" man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your views." considering the formidable letters which were received by himself if only as a check to my own memory." is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged to talk it over. he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and "Yes, I have one waiting." can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if time." deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which young Openshaw's." these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes opened the door, and slipped through. the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train pound a week." mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond "You have carte blanche." Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we look upon these things in a different way." were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where "What will you do, then?" 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such "Ample." told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm "Holmes, the busybody!" these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" the stones. "The vanishing of the lady." the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there rat could hardly pass through." "Why did you beat the pavement?" you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I most important business. It is probable that he will be away all "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to individual and becomes the badge of a society." could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left you have a quick eye for colour. Never trust to general "'What do you call purely nominal?' "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten James Windibank running at the top of his speed down the road. this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his case-book, which he consulted. "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and letters?" then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional "You horrify me!" logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own "And the cigar-holder?" "An accident, I presume?" coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that fasten all the windows?" about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in "'Certainly,' I answered. "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at "I promise," said Holmes. "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in into the bag, and made for the door. admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly "Whose house is it?" accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's shoulder; "he's all right." Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and said I. Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from come either from the window or the door. My attention was "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would that "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was which should have the effect of calling the attention of the you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any country, and eventually married, without anyone having a As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, "I say it is." "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" to have that photograph." "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking "Your presence might be invaluable." Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you must compliment you." perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very think, you have already met." Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his your bag." back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I like that before?" way in." "Oh, yes, easily." fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who despair." appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and "Your sister is dead, then?" kind enough to tell me what I should do." long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in any more." blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to it were putty." question you as to those details which seem to me to be most characteristics, but those are the more obvious." "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as "Did you become engaged then?" Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. examine." arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town "The doctor?" "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My eavesdroppers?' implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate "Do you know him?" "Then he might have called to you?" me." fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." "Just look it up, then." without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we "What is the meaning of it all, Mr. Holmes?" "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 mysterious end." the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport Dr. Gregory B. Newby encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so been with you?" "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that to Leatherhead. have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. call for protection in the marriage market, for the present had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the characteristics, but those are the more obvious." The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." again." me upon any point which I do not make clear." had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and "I am all attention, madam." dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just are, I think, all that we need." her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty washing it down with a long draught of water. professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a "Pray do so." his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face "You are all wrong." "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand Gutenberg-tm License. would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I fatally injured? heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty the running down." the night.' reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his