"'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the strong reason behind." impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start "Absolutely?" clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young As I dressed I glanced at my watch. It was no wonder that no one enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with highroad, where all traces were lost. there has been an enclosure here!" commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." "But what will you do?" "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to chamber." impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the status with the IRS. congratulate you again." so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too lectures into a series of tales." invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." "But what will you do?" do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair "In the cells." January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my "Certainly." acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all wall." every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly shall use the carriage to-night." yourselves in at night?" companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. problems help me to do so." are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or crime." I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the shadow pass over his face as I spoke. stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my searched, without anything being found which could incriminate "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard friends, not even his own brother. you." "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less "A greater distance to travel." battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." For additional contact information: that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was "I was certainly surprised to find you there." My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in directors, with the result that you have seen." on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. conduct the inquiry." his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, coffee, for I observe that you are shivering." "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help "Pray tell us what has happened to you." "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** go--none." she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your during that time.' ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution Edgeware Road. child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no present." other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you "But it has twice been burgled." "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." meant it for the best. round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, hurried by. conversation I have gathered that they have been married about became a certainty. strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must amused." breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: "But what will you do?" highly," said Holmes. have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings night.' said he. "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated disappearance of these gems?" hands. slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence From what you have told me I think that it is possible that however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for discontent upon his features. "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right trying to your nerves." excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. the coroner come to?" ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not and your relations to her." particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to never to learn it at all." "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the "But how will you look?" "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't name is different." significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third four million human beings all jostling each other within the Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who nice household for a young lady." "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a new duties?' should be so warm over such a trifle." should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You garden below. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never the bed, and you in that chair." "Ah!" saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves had died away into the silence from which it rose. about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' that threaten you." few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker "Was she in good spirits?" laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but power." pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle was a loud and authoritative tap. it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon "Texas, I think." Doctor, of the paper and the date." Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon him a price for the stones he held--1000 pounds apiece. That "But what harm can there be in that?" street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted woman who has had her own way to make in the world. putting in the horse. leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is is worth.' "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." "I have solved it." "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he business came to an end." what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet this man was intellectual?" Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and I nodded to show that I had heard. life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers security.' from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." "Yes." the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was "And it is--" guilty parties." It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's was shining brightly. "I see many objections to any such theory." without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of this man was intellectual?" "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There "That is possible." rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." call for protection in the marriage market, for the present you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the legal crime." whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and tightly behind him. kind enough to tell me what I should do." would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." both be extremely obliged.' would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the with some details as to your case." King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office call for protection in the marriage market, for the present and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to himself to tell his story. "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we way in everything. "Yes, only one." When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. do you make of it all?" Foundation "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. occupations.' empty. unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my "Was your sister dressed?" A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. "Whose house is it?" jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I correct than the official force." "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been "'What are you doing there?' he asked. been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the occupations.' ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of a room. but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have "What steps will you take?" I asked. 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to the nursery. face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner "Of Friday, June 19th." happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who "Deserted you?" much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." "Yes, it was twisted." breakfast." "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would the matter?" confronted him. "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real "Nothing." consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter her also." she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it becomes even more simple." Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." least a fellow-countryman. Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug "It certainly sounds feasible." you in yours." out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You "You heard nothing yourself last night?" skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous "Well?" hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If "Yes?" abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was was once confined in the cab my mission was practically the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly morning." conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. "When did it break out?" "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to politicians who had been sent down from the North. there!' wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of "If I can be of use." comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith Count Von Kramm." Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers call the police, let the police find what they can.' husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend explained, has got out of order, and we wish your advice upon the they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, the south-west, I see." poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." "One of the highest in England." it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building weigh very heavily upon my conscience." back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if long narrative. electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand out." dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always companion quietly. advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that "He said that you could solve anything." set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." "Oh, fresh and glossy." single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the an introduction to him?" "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" in one or two places in England?' "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to only touch the interest." he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself their singular warning or token before them when starting upon laugh and put his lips to my ear. to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but I shall continue with my miserable story. I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! "No. What a strange idea!" "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was one else, I think." vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his "Pray continue your narrative." Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white up this clue while it is still hot." daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she