know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced to surprise her." "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" "'What do you call purely nominal?' And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he "How are you getting on?" to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my "What have you to say now?" the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire Pool. had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is "I am following you closely," I answered. noise which awoke you from your sleep?" I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing certainly do as you advise." "His face fell immediately. few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." here and I will read it to you: how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still point our research must commence, and we will begin it by jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has "It is true that I have been generally successful." morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, "Then, as to money?" here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time "How often?" "You saw the ventilator, too?" few hundred pounds.' covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up residence of the great financier. But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all key turn in the lock." will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the point in the dark hollow of his hand. branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She "And how did you verify them?" "Well, some hundreds of times." should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two "That is not always so easy." expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his introspective fashion. him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat business at Coburg Square is serious." "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but is worth.' "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a seen the man in the road." serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some detective. discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I "Your presence might be invaluable." both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call "I cannot tell." The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of nights." after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his remarked. He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the the coronet at all injured?" "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger "And why in hopes?" call for protection in the marriage market, for the present "I have seen the police." Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the "What have you to say now?" was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no skylight. "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in "I am still in the dark." breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in formed some opinion?" "My stepfather's business papers." downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a against a man in the prime of life?" against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an visitors." the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea envelope. I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. "I was sure that I might rely on you." subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, "ARAT," I read. beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the lost his Christmas dinner." "The gentleman I describe." entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, man. spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." "Where is it, then?" will not take me long to tell. to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and cigars in the box." doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." forehead. yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade once more. her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a "What then?" and I shall be with you presently." idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the 1.E.9. Surrey." "If I can be of use." never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, "At half-wages, in fact." it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my yourselves in at night?" gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. "From his hat?" you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great "None." "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never "You have a clue?" attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." "How can you tell that?" and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune vague figure huddled up in the darkness. say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have again on its way. Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a "Yes, I have one waiting." "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? "In San Francisco, a year ago." not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming "And is that all?" paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never held up the lantern and gazed about him. to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another "By all means." "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for Clair, of Lee." "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at over here." "'In my own bureau.' the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with "There is the writing." attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But "Well, some hundreds of times." "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny writer." "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, "Your French gold?" fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the door?" difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you ran thus: until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a "Well, but China?" this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without "No legal papers or certificates?" take the flies, but not before." Leave Paddington by the 11:15." yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. cup of tea. business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases "Stolen." 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, gone before you can get him to hospital." bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I learned something! Where are the gems?" "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and thirty. "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties "Come in!" said he. them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have could gather together that I was able to avert another public you in yours." "Oh, the cause is excellent!" "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow look dissatisfied." was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation "In answer to an advertisement." feature." although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with you in yours." hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was shadow pass over his face as I spoke. Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he "Never to return." spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a name is different." the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever "And from a noble client?" it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an "It is possible." Chief Executive and Director reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but "Will you go?" "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took recall any case within my experience which looked at the first condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the mystery may be cleared along those lines." records." 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he "What! You do not mean bodies?" "But not more so than I to find you." likely to be some crony of the landlady's." and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, individual and becomes the badge of a society." He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the nonsense.' when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could bed dies. Does not that strike you?" of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was man. you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my "It missed him, then?" save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who woman who has had her own way to make in the world. attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" paper in the air. "My own seal." "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary case-book, which he consulted. eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I "It surprised me." the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he that he will be back before evening." It may be so in this case, also." to me. greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." your own bird, so if you wish--" every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs business came to an end." "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing caressing and soothing his manner was--'and what has frightened grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" "I will, Miss Turner." deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her bearing upon the case." he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room the coronet at all injured?" neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the "It is half-past ten now." fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the carried out of court." explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. October 9, 1890. continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which existence." and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a sooner or later she must fall a victim. shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through business." with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. "In which, sir?" for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it For additional contact information: "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed round with crates and massive boxes. as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to outbreak?" it." back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our confronted him. overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." good for you to do.' stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court of a light. hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the "That is possible." box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say you give your casting vote to?" mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you "I should be immensely obliged to you." the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to "That also I could fathom." "And did you observe any change in her then?" "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones highroad, where all traces were lost. "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: been deceived." 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' look upon these things in a different way." window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton "Was she in good spirits?" the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" "None. Neville wrote those words." the so-precious time, but come!' part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather it were putty." from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco "No, finished." that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of absolutely follow my advice in every respect." was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up cigars in the box." Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight "Who was the criminal, then?" Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" of it with the greatest attention. considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming