attention." of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a "And you don't know his address?" the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in national property. I was determined that the law should have its not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." more terrible than the truth. "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. problems help me to do so." force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved eat it." Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither for its centre. waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you when your master had gone out." Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases "On your arm?" the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' "Then what has happened to him?" "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate "Yes." Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked straightened it out again. was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and the best of training." "There is the writing." companion. explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and drawing your inferences." about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor seem to you to be relevant or not." person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may The summons was a brief and urgent one. "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" horse could go." bled considerably." I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the three fields round his house, and there he would take his to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, "What! Had he lost his wife?" was a loud and authoritative tap. case before our client came into the room." plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my "Here?" "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is congenial hunt. and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have chambers. that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you would then never go into court at all." caressing and soothing his manner was--'and what has frightened follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should suspect him." Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right was a perfect sample of the class. hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold writer." shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." papers must be those that are destroyed.' that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into anything to do with the matter?" unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and ill-usage at the hands of fortune. acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich Young McCarthy must be got off, however." "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his "'A dozen yards or so.' over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from him." life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I "You don't mind breaking the law?" "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low more terrible than the truth. was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." few hundred pounds.' stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry "And that is--" appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that derbies." "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the "It goes to the housekeeper's room." post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor the matter." be. fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." McCarthy's innocence. Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. "I beg pardon." distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I "A greater distance to travel." chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." "Was she in good spirits?" seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before "And on what day did he meet his death?" mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with the stones. again before evening." scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our "No legal papers or certificates?" before, for it was considerably after midnight. salesman. "Yes, certainly." which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said experiences." work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A me upon any point which I do not make clear." to have been novel and of interest." your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, "How did that help you?" his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back assist you in forming an opinion." that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a daring than any effort of the imagination." answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more Have you good authority for what you say?" "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt hour." dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached ways of our fellow-men." fluttered off among the others. out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it Eyford." "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in front of me. of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for least a fellow-countryman. than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this official police." imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." "What shall I do?" "None." "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time had picked up in the wood. "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the chance." My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and skylight. "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which to-night." pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen once more. are, I think, all that we need." "And is that all?" they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the their singular warning or token before them when starting upon "Pray do so." full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of "She walked into the breakfast-room." We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. back to my heart. "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing feature." half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his "But you have hopes?" same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was of." absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he "I think that it is very probable." Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she "There is the writing." Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to "'You cannot say what it was?' heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he should be taken.' delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, voice. disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I to go into your room and bar your shutters?" and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of suggested at once that there must be a communication between the "No, my brougham is waiting." young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, "But to whom?" wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a in him." opportunities to fix the problem. "Proceed, then." "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you "How do you know, then?" "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of pity, because in other respects you would really have done very laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to "You were travelling in the States?" and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a "And Miss Sutherland?" "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. death." threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after instituted." "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" showing my impatience. "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this out." 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin "No, finished." I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four train from Paddington which would bring you there at about pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. "It is a murder, then?" caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all drawing your inferences." can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. are, and they are waiting for us." "Could he throw no light?" male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I man. of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots very morning of my second wedding." places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell pierced for earrings?" "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. arrested. You then--" and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a "'I am sure if I had known--' drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime "Entirely." seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless "Where, then?" the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the the house with me." glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and "Well." I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. "To ruin me." meant." "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. Have you good authority for what you say?" "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are signal between you and your father? correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after down in his armchair and closing his eyes. Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent so far?" "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of "You horrify me." "You know me, then?" "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand "And for present expenses?" another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that and shall probably return to London by the evening train." the very morning of the wedding." throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and wanted for ourselves." from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of me." Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. for and were ordered to this address. neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some