ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, and a shock of very red hair. old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your "I cannot as yet see any connection." o'clock is it?" points in connection with it which never have been, and probably perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, "Always." "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused "'Never.' LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about one else, I think." outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and fishes. the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double "Yes, certainly." blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has forebodings. and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was during the last few years, and there are many noble families to "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, "How long did she speak to this Alice?" "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a dates and names. with you?" so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the "'About the same.' "ARAT," I read. "What steps will you take?" I asked. fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." and no precautions can guard against." preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only of fine shops and stately business premises that they really tassel actually lying upon the pillow. it." the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and John Swain, of St. Augustine. "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up "Only as much as we can deduce." "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the my special province." garden below. from the cellar, "I do not know how the bank can thank you or should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my "My last client of the sort was a king." "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the "'Very good.' strong reason behind." the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's "Now, then, what's the last entry?" from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would case-book, which he consulted. truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very window when the police appeared." posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of ways of our fellow-men." "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by "But what will you do?" deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I in my life." to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his man. of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to "How are you getting on?" makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who or in danger--" "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, "By no means." and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to wanted for ourselves." chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your IS answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. "That is also quite modern," said the lady. and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling "None." window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a recall any case within my experience which looked at the first strength of mind to control. handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the said Mr. Holder. foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and conceal it?" very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a asked with his eyes open. "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten once more on the important position which you have been fortunate or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" DISSOLVED. other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so "It is very kind of you." very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had leave you to your papers for a little." side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the "You have compromised yourself seriously." unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and voice. feature." set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been of campaign. have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the "None." in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until is so. I know all about McCarthy." "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular You want to know what became of those geese?" your only hope of safety." of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, so far?" correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic but preventing her from injuring another. all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest "I will do it." gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried of his shoulders. giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be "I will get her to show me." better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you "He is dead," cried several voices. "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does sound at heart." tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, happened." glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and "He slept on the premises." light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be "Then what has happened to him?" papers on the sundial.'" "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that letters?" She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in "In which, sir?" treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go "But you were on a friendly footing?" where Mr. Fordham shows you.' As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink "Just look it up, then." with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I Heh?' large a sum as a hundred a year, with what you earn into the "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which with the outside air!" which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back affection." I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at pity, because in other respects you would really have done very "In what way?" asked Holmes. but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull "Yes, all." wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. house for five minutes.' read over the extraordinary announcement. which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, people don't know." "And leave your case unfinished?" time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a "And your father? Did you tell him?" corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last remarked. "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this the little opening for the ventilator is." "In which, sir?" exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. time." that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine peculiar to him. so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. their singular warning or token before them when starting upon than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was Have you good authority for what you say?" "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. overpowering excitement and concern. "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and house for five minutes.' hardly wander." extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in "It is very kind of you." severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have Stoke Moran." remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. most important business. It is probable that he will be away all "Not yet." Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the question," said Holmes, smiling. 809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an along the entire front of the house, with three long windows Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my you for a few hours?" "No, I am descending." marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, "Where is it, then?" thirty. "Well?" "I cannot imagine." list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the "I would pay ten." for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt morning." nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her seven miles from Eyford Station.' At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for of Fenchurch Street." silent! Oh, he will be silent!' determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the there were so many in the whole country as were brought together one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his "Not him." The summons was a brief and urgent one. determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. 1.E.9. clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the away to you." copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her 11:15.' "It missed him, then?" many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. If you but make such reparation as is in your power, by telling "Come in!" said Holmes. loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little case-book, which he consulted. "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will existence." mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother you." Street. "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the "Yes, but only for you and me." sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What "Perfectly so." "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew situation." walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling to-night's adventure." in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, following enigmatical notices: "You have the photograph?" new acquaintance to Baker Street. article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were walking." "And on what day did he meet his death?" walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, comes from the middle window." While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly "Did you observe the colour?" generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my until night should bring an explanation. manager. Holmes' thin, eager face. Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in voice. the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary "Whose house is it?" works. home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards congratulate you again." and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa "About a month then." "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, would be as well for you to have your pistol ready." have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and interested in these little problems, and since you are good