corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he papers diligently of late, have you not?" to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more "But his lameness?" woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was "She walked into the breakfast-room." Farm upon the left." her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his Holmes." "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his everything which you would wish to know." cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." have accepted such a situation. he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly pound a week." so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet The telegram which we eventually received came late one night "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I fear." intrusion of other matters." very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these "It was an hour's good drive." shall not find me ungrateful." asked. said he. suddenly upon us." year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally "Which surely he restored to their owner?" and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for "That you are never beaten." go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he "You are hungry," I remarked. It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the the loss of it. London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and with the outside air!" on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will long narrative. obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and "'Why that?' I asks. destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we foot. overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should "You have compromised yourself seriously." platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my "Ten will be early enough." believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning asked with his eyes open. Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it read it out to me." was lame." Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family of." her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I not fit the lock." him to go away.' Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his not fit the lock." and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a shall use the carriage to-night." "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land corner of the building. that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the "Was she in good spirits?" "I cannot imagine." standing smiling on the door-step. nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy But Holmes shook his head gravely. good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which was shining brightly. gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers of campaign. the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. "'Is 4 pounds a week.' "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones you?' have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" not come at once?" "That is easily got." "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." bachelor.' "What?" "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have away to you." "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently other, as fresh and trim as possible. "Frequently." which should have the effect of calling the attention of the lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey more terrible than the truth. tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send remarked. office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked more solid." you." "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I "What! a murderous attack?" used to be." Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do call it cruel." to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both it with his own hands." at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 lectures into a series of tales." public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself on in his house." black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his "He is dead," cried several voices. "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately "You horrify me." wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." desk. lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking correct than the official force." branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate head. So long, then!" occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." meant it for the best. revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my was feeling which was the fattest.' arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his If you but make such reparation as is in your power, by telling shag which I had seen upon the previous night. which should have the effect of calling the attention of the into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I without a word or a look. purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a "'Hampshire. Charming rural place. The Copper Beeches, five miles comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two gone before you can get him to hospital." round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I his wife has ceased to love him." forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He like gravel from a pit.' "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon coroner's jury." done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, "Yes." as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain "And why?" deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and "Did you observe the colour?" I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that disturbance in my wife." "No, I am descending." brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out "'Yes.' circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" mystery." clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the "What have you to say now?" with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the "Yes, all." "So it appears." "I will get her to show me." short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' the station." "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle prove to be little relation between the different incidents of about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant towards the blaze. breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his my special province." Sholtos." creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might "No. What a strange idea!" and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, "But your client--" matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in he died? "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She tightly behind him. fluttered off among the others. up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off "I do." Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow October 9, 1890. might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm "Because he was handy and would come cheap." a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your assist you in forming an opinion." away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm ready to-morrow?' interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with written, and locked the door of the office after me. particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away than was visible to me." observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my chance." The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, "She showed me, as I told you she would." the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, "And on what day did he meet his death?" in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of "What have you done?" asked Holmes. think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and out of this horrible affair." place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." occupation, but was interested in several companies and went into English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged corner of the building. rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something II. sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, pressing in one house as in another. will he say when he returns?" her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, him to go away.' and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." events than those which have happened in my own family." "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point "I cannot tell." from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town enter Dr. Roylott's room." superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking searched, without anything being found which could incriminate money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, "Quite so." I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." point in the dark hollow of his hand. the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler "How did that help you?" "Pray be precise as to details," said he. "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." IS were new raised from a basin. "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the you." tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" of a light. him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little instincts rose up against that laugh. "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You