was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And chance." were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out drove away. I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little "Entirely." the nursery. taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it nonsense.' down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the heavy and sharp instrument." colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, "An enemy?" disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of and a shock of very red hair. journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to "Very. But will he see it?" put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass "Where is it, then?" less than 26s. 4d. doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was "Yes." "You have a clue?" should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of see a sister of mine apply for." suddenly upon us." house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down "None." in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. "So I heard. You have him here?" "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the overpowering excitement and concern. as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly pierced for earrings?" am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be interests were the same as his." go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the which we had just quitted. "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close I approached. young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a most important business. It is probable that he will be away all full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and hands. - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies there!' deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this of them has the shutters up.' that you wished to speak to me?' "I have solved it." trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he wife's character?" doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, manager. values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what singular points about the case. What did the police think of the neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round tied." gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. "This concluded the examination of the witness." slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table "Witness: Nothing definite. his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" do you make of it all?" "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, "And from a noble client?" human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual of note-paper. It read in this fashion: without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to place, I think that there is good ground to think that the nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. "Well?" for securing the situation." instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body problems help me to do so." was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to "You have it, sir, just as it happened." "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must test if we have an answer to our advertisement." "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. your bag." I leave." unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door "'And the work?' in darkness. of Fenchurch Street." posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent "But we can't all be." his face. of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in both be extremely obliged.' for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, soul! here is her carriage at the door." interests were the same as his." clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom "'What are you doing there?' he asked. him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire our word." Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the of fine shops and stately business premises that they really here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." "Really! You surprise me." the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." go--none." and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate "I know where it is." "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. Arthur Conan Doyle then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her she slowly sank and died without having recovered her her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? there when the Rucastles went away." had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." "But what harm can there be in that?" jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his presented more singular features than that which was associated could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls thin, with a long, sharp nose?" "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away "Here?" one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the geese which you supplied to the Alpha." posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot "Well?" into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were "No bad?" "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." stammered. leave you to your papers for a little." "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some until night should bring an explanation. their singular warning or token before them when starting upon Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. strength of mind to control. "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." "And it is--" "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you outside." me where it went to?" geese which you supplied to the Alpha." It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my developed." "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This the dangers which encompass me." month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or situation." "I have a cab outside." conceal it?" hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to side. the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what just called myself is not exactly my own." "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on "She told me to ask you." "One of his hands." open." others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was "You saw the ventilator, too?" desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent unkempt, staring out at me. outside." higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door humiliation." eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to think you a quite exceptional woman." "Nothing?" fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with retorted upon me, and I on you." of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." in this way: drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." good for you to do.' of campaign. interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed "Will you bet, then?" that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I matter." know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, "Now, then, what's the last entry?" and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked jewels which you have stolen?' and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then official police." grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light it were putty." are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be official police." police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now to-night." urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a "I cannot think." street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something "'Not at all. I only doubt--' to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt that?' made him keep the appointment." and looked back. "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having prepare for the new role I have to play." the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' "And for present expenses?" to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the "'In my own bureau.' opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or searched, without anything being found which could incriminate to you." "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to desk. tell him that I know him to be innocent." reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts disturbance in my wife." I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her hair?' destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and "Where, then?" the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah "Have you it here?" inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that his cane at the bell-pull. from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding States. As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the held up the lantern and gazed about him. as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. as yours." It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to "Not in the least." fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in strength of mind to control. said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is to-night?" I asked. my former friend and companion. loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can morning." silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, "Nothing?" and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. case-book, which he consulted. "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his "Come in!" said Holmes. then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out 1.E.9. copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. wall." that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He said I. beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I "Yes, I have one waiting." "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his right! Sit down and let us talk it over." Watson," he said cordially. come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with likely to be some crony of the landlady's." away into the river." a room. doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body used to be." legal crime." "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing out of this horrible affair." a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it "And you can do nothing until then?" them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made touch that coronet?' over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." constraint." Holmes. "I was mad--insane." really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. was feeling which was the fattest.' "I never have." "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a "Certainly, madam." Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly sooner or later she must fall a victim. "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray "Absolutely none." poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your young Openshaw's." four million human beings all jostling each other within the but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that is four-and-twenty." "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine "'The work appears to be light and the pay munificent.' what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all