"No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which three fields round his house, and there he would take his contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare following enigmatical notices: Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' the coronet in his hand?" I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. within hail.' "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at really the only notable feature about the thing." direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too foot. arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of touch that coronet?' nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was woven round him. "Yes." "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, country, and eventually married, without anyone having a Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." much for me. I'm not rich, but still I have a hundred a year in the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm Eyford." head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to any." discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my returned to France?" who was a member of your goose club." more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your "But you can know nothing of this?" own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these "But not more so than I to find you." which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. "I do." should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." the matter?" the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the dear old homesteads?" at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length yards of it?' Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent hardly wander." "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss ashen face. "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he salesman. and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" noise which awoke you from your sleep?" "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in "You did not overhear what they said?" empty. thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle she slowly sank and died without having recovered her the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is just ask you whether you had heard it.' was shining brightly. relation between them, and what the object of his repeated whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of "I cannot think." the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she copied or distributed: outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more with you alone." done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very straightened it out again. We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you soul! here is her carriage at the door." set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us letters?" my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He again before evening." "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the into the bag, and made for the door. the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't "And what then?" down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the tightly behind him. "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to how narrow had been my escape. her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune looking up at the numbers of the houses." "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind developed." "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was "If so, much may have happened between." This is what he says: "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more jewels which you have stolen?' From what you have told me I think that it is possible that "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of "The best possible." "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on answered with a sidelong glance. maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself "None." erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a ceremony." "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." "You forget that I know nothing about it." "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed As I dressed I glanced at my watch. It was no wonder that no one of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin again." "But what is it you wish?" the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on over his head with a sweet womanly caress. however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square who was a member of your goose club." "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and that before taking the final step I should like to submit the "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, bird I ate is country bred." which was all perfectly true. sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, "And the murderer?" America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, "Not particularly." It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of that he will be back before evening." her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope morning." subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a soul! here is her carriage at the door." a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora stammered. my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and "How many? I don't know." "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much present strange and interesting features that it is no easy swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which all that?" should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." dead, shall be safe with us." the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last "Where, then?" trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low charge against him will break down." so far?" Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. presume?" "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies wanted for ourselves." he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of read it out to me." had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the intimate personal affairs in this public manner." I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became stammered. the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood straighten it?" "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a "It is very kind of you." "So I heard. You have him here?" already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I face and glided from the room. have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near him!" had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their ago." foot. a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, you in your example." cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: golden eyeglasses. States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single Project Gutenberg-tm works. about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You you, my dear young lady?' red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, the corner. "I have had nothing else to do." own family. handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that "'Quite sure, dad.' unapproachable from that side. Now, would you have the kindness that, and I came down." "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever is so. I know all about McCarthy." mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. he. me what he had done with the three missing stones. your equipment. the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but whole matter to your consideration." might have a private word with us. lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us matter." creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety "You'll never persuade me to believe that." the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered "She showed me, as I told you she would." is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in "What is it?" on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the James Windibank running at the top of his speed down the road. you." well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had quite distinctive." about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late and effective." action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" me where it went to?" evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, ordered fresh rashers and eggs, and joined us in a hearty meal. hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my pound a week." "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel "None." and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch Eyford at 11:15.' "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room of your young ladies.' that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in the very morning of the wedding." "Yes." Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying My friend smiled. of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying heavy and sharp instrument." have got?" used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a "Precisely." "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, "What is it?" companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the forbidden door. I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a tapping his fingers upon the table. good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. "What, then, did Peterson do?" "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The "What?" of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in there when the Rucastles went away." "But what harm can there be in that?" believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I "What have you to say now?" "Then the page we have seen--" the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that the man of whom I had heard. He appeared to be in a in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a quickly through a disagreeable task. gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and strong and stiff." what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an to change my dress. much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in both be extremely obliged.' "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under are, and they are waiting for us." into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked weighed down with some great anxiety. bonnet, and went out." harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed he bowed and left the room without another word. "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There rooms." all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon as this. Pray let me have the details." "His face fell immediately. had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you of Fenchurch Street." at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his sit on the left-hand side of the driver." Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence