looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it lumber-room." than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser fluttered off among the others. acted in my house last night?" "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over "I am in hopes that she does." seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." believe that I should never have any practice at all. was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the said I. it were putty." putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, to you." your most interesting statement." "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these was already answered. was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. "Yes, at the mines." "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, where Mr. Fordham shows you.' pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until look upon these things in a different way." walking." hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they again." "How do you know, then?" to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any beyond words. "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy o'clock is it?" in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a "Then, how do you know?" "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the "Never." "'I am sure if I had known--' "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." "It is to him that this trophy belongs." impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us if she died from some sudden fright." "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed "Stoke Moran?" said he. grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some "Stolen." "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under James Windibank. Voilà tout!" held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, "'What would be the hours?' I asked. his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a together. even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose I shall continue with my miserable story. green of the new foliage. of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the The summons was a brief and urgent one. fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has "But it has twice been burgled." out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely lids now and glanced across at his visitor. dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and province." work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, "I say that I have solved it." his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. "Eh? What was that?" retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one prison!" twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and "I cannot as yet see any connection." breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, drawing your inferences." human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret house for five minutes.' his forehead." face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been outsides of the windows. over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I some city in a dream. "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from me what he had done with the three missing stones. grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on them?" yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two business at Coburg Square is serious." they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call right! Sit down and let us talk it over." The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as away into the river." when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she "My dear Holmes!" Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if papers must be those that are destroyed.' "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these tassel actually lying upon the pillow. is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense ventilator." "But she could not love him." "I have sworn it by the most solemn oaths which a man can take." is now desirous of getting those letters back." might have a private word with us. upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that "That is possible." to surprise her." in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted "It's nothing of the kind." determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! there were so many in the whole country as were brought together "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, companion imperturbably. downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my there were one or two details which were new to me. But the "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and mystery." "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their particular state visit http://pglaf.org both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he that I am arrested." maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a "What have you to say now?" to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It as he remarks, very much against the son." some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. "And leave your case unfinished?" "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of of receipt of the work. which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." and the church but not where the lady lived." "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with and glanced through. the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, "Really! You surprise me." trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter "Just look it up, then." look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, "The decline of his fortunes, then?" thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, "You are hungry," I remarked. "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I developed." "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his "I will do it." I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as tell them apart.' "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled "Perfectly so." fluttered off among the others. hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to "Eh? What was that?" lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in question. police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple window when the police appeared." "How on earth--" prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip "And how?" array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" morning." depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. Chief Executive and Director were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called retorted upon me, and I on you." and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and which should have the effect of calling the attention of the as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from "I don't say that. Perhaps." "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my must compliment you." seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not "'And the work?' blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which "But his left-handedness." something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a "Yes. He waved his hands." "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, me upon any point which I do not make clear." to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that at home. lost nothing by them." he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." o'clock is it?" myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after stepfather?" surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, Where does the thing come from?' your most interesting statement." papers diligently of late, have you not?" an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped points to suicide?" possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of "What!" he roared. "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" to tell." "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." call it cruel." to-night?" I asked. younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." have got?" His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As strange features which were associated with the two crimes which "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in "And how did you verify them?" He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties "'And what are they worth?' I asked. twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. most interesting one." point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, "You horrify me!" during which he might have communicated with his friend the "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened once more on the important position which you have been fortunate window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, subject to the trademark license, especially commercial Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, as though some dreadful hand were behind me clutching at the few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." "'I have already given you my word.' high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner some water from a caraffe. "Ten will be early enough." across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can was lame." Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, tied." subject to the trademark license, especially commercial wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we "But what is it you wish?" with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double "Very much so." collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the the ceiling. scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all during which he might have communicated with his friend the Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a "It is very clear." and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, see a sister of mine apply for." behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared I shall communicate with you." lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day "He is still with you, I presume?" words came to my lips. "And the murderer?" society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in on re-entering her father's house?" "What do you make of that, Watson?" congratulate you again." was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they "So I have heard." standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was "They are typewritten," I remarked. father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his you." "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers