avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." tell him that I know him to be innocent." written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can infinite languor in his face. you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink words came to my lips. a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT bedroom door." the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home train.' "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And business?" my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had this truth that in these little records of our cases which you in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a the address that was given us in the advertisement. could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg golden eyeglasses. "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in lectures into a series of tales." the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" "'Is 4 pounds a week.' retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my "Thank you. Pray proceed." "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked his wife has ceased to love him." clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the feature." 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has month. 'You shall not have a farthing from me,' I cried, on which clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and and laid it on the table. snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was God! What an exposure! What can I do?" "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I "An enemy?" there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you "I would pay ten." "To the police?" home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the Heh?' who was a member of your goose club." of fine shops and stately business premises that they really armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be here." have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, some mystery and the punishment of some crime." is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a over here." "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your Street. "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for "Frequently." himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." house for five minutes.' have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a works. See paragraph 1.E below. middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem union?" given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it "Because he was handy and would come cheap." strength." like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. lost his Christmas dinner." pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. extraordinary contortions. coat-tails." I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" "Did you become engaged then?" England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the tell me that you intended to go into harness." (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the golden eyeglasses. next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you For additional contact information: Again Holmes raved in the air. "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" might help us?" phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this must compliment you." whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his cigars in the box." "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." before, for it was considerably after midnight. "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon "Yes, from Horsham." watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a Cross for the Continent." "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to your equipment. has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that not within a twentieth part of the market price." have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, of receipt of the work. about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, McCarthy's innocence. gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits light and attacked it." his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." presume?" "It's nothing of the kind." spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have "We must have a cab." "Then I am your man." I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper ordered fresh rashers and eggs, and joined us in a hearty meal. balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that infinite languor in his face. blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' morning." exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that said Mr. Holder. week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open was lame." "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. sake, don't!" "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been them present such singular features as the strange train of When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to some water from a caraffe. "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. all-comprehensive glances. his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." "No, I am descending." "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence "'It is locked up,' I answered. happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her appeared upon the scene." quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very at my own good fortune. hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but "Nothing." original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a he. "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most developed." my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the better grown goose." that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime papers on the sundial.'" through." some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he third from London." called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the The telegram which we eventually received came late one night we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed official police." With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to "I say it is." Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to could gather together that I was able to avert another public threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed explained, has got out of order, and we wish your advice upon the will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your a few minutes he said that it would be all right. "'Yes, it was gone.' Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense "Upon what point?" need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any "You are certainly joking, Holmes." would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, "On your arm?" "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" footfalls from the street. country, and eventually married, without anyone having a no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. asked with his eyes open. "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was as yours." the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All Edgeware Road. when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was of receipt of the work. fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second way: alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora tell him that I know him to be innocent." is acting for the best. wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been Holmes' room. time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the "And is that all?" "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do "Come in!" said Holmes. "I think it very unlikely." he bowed and left the room without another word. never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. place, I think that there is good ground to think that the his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. to take care of herself." usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until and no precautions can guard against." "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, weighed down with some great anxiety. mystery!" table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the not, dad?" she asked. in my life." is entirely a question of barometric pressure." where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" when your master had gone out." was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind I think that I could be of assistance to you." "You are certainly joking, Holmes." this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so "Yes." The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural stood on the top of it. very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another window when the police appeared." note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended "BALLARAT." had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than "What!" he roared. colour had been driven from his face. eavesdroppers?' "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down is a common subject for conversation. winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for "You have compromised yourself seriously." geese which you supplied to the Alpha." was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits. on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, letters?" money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; might have a private word with us. Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," "Yes, all." for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate charge against him will break down." neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of if only as a check to my own memory." "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I Again Holmes raved in the air. He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the walking." "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." "'Tell me all about it,' said I. everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of fishes. heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the there when the Rucastles went away." "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is the loss of it. "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I key of the affair now." here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, him, that man would not have given me such complete information face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the