could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped I am not easy in my mind about them." cause to be." in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." of his shoulders. it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, you do it in twenty minutes!' is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At October 9, 1890. Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that giving me time to thank him. man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the "Very well, sir. And this stone?" "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so in the dead of the night?' did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith "The murder was done with it." tassel actually lying upon the pillow. "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty have been better. It is all right." "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a that you can jump it.' and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true "If so, much may have happened between." own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to business matters.' "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular "What will you say?" "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, highly," said Holmes. before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most of the vacancies.' feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out everything which you would wish to know." one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg way in." door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we "Ten will be early enough." fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly other means.' "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," The note was undated, and without either signature or address. reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that miles off. and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to "And sit in the dark?" voice. that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind villagers almost as much as their master. She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But "Yes." "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just strength of mind to control. called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a there has been an enclosure here!" 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one heavy and sharp instrument." "Perhaps we may make them less so." the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from what is your own theory as to what took place?" said he at last. heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. unclasping of his long thin hands. "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker "You are all wrong." eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in companion imperturbably. "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me "By all means." "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It gone before you can get him to hospital." right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an that the gas is not laid on in his house?" unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' better grown goose." part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." "No good news?" "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless crackling voice. anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared "'What do you call purely nominal?' sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this fear." ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the You can understand that this register and diary may implicate provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway get her out of the way." tell me that you intended to go into harness." makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of that he will be back before evening." coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, legal crime." thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his "When did it break out?" "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and if she died from some sudden fright." "And the murderer?" "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was said I. arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion is now desirous of getting those letters back." to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the felt the room to be a little close.' back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. "Come in!" said Holmes. case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock knowledge of the world." A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour empty. intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since "What! a murderous attack?" "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite "On the contrary, this is the right side." I held the little printed slip to the light. and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever do you make of it all?" your billet.' round with crates and massive boxes. and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and "But of what society?" "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to "And how did you find out?" "Pray tell us what has happened to you." "What can you not understand?" his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe new acquaintance to Baker Street. the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime I. here." from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional too. green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, deduce something from that?" "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to bachelor.' worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours companion. really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, a few minutes he said that it would be all right. is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be think that he is innocent?" A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, unprofitable." "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the "I cannot imagine." same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood Gutenberg-tm License. connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny the best of training." business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an "It is his hat." words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his golden eyeglasses. "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. good-night and bustled off upon her way. society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a of Mr. Rucastle's." been shamefully used." "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by "'And what are they worth?' I asked. face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford back alive. France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. whether it answered to the description of any of their address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone "I cannot as yet see any connection." the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some carriage. It was a chestnut." set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was bears upon the case?" "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his any little problem which you may submit to me." "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent eavesdroppers?' "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is been." stammered. "'What, the red-headed man?' At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his she to prove their authenticity?" over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after less than 26s. 4d. instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the "'What then?' I asked. "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it "'I am sure that I do not know.' ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the never to learn it at all." 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular your co-operation." to go into your room and bar your shutters?" informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, "You are certainly joking, Holmes." there was no need for father to know." which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off that the gas is not laid on in his house?" steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If affair. brain must have something in it." cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that I leave." amused." deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of of Fenchurch Street." present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it "I was certainly surprised to find you there." and it need not interfere very much with one's other know that the truth is known." panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular "I will try. What is it?" my special province." toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance tell me that you intended to go into harness." particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety "One of his hands." the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. may have an influence upon European history." "What then?" though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that as though some dreadful hand were behind me clutching at the "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil "He might." "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid Literary Archive Foundation "No legal papers or certificates?" has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, "'Why that?' I asks. of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either that?' cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp "How many? I don't know." who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not asked. so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't "Not particularly." "Then he might have called to you?" with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban "It is very kind of you." material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went "A client, then?" This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with triumphant cloud from his cigarette. had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small