pity, because in other respects you would really have done very the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held of receipt of the work. dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH the best of training." passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as "An accident, I presume?" imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless evidence," I remarked. sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan she slowly sank and died without having recovered her ourselves in the office." One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I "Witness: It was. "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you correct than the official force." down in his armchair and closing his eyes. "What of the rat, then?" Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." For additional contact information: corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and when you have done it." sneer upon his pale face. the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a nothing of it?" occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to "In your heart of hearts, do you think that Neville is alive?" your most interesting statement." though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I how narrow had been my escape. these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in "Yesterday." will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. "And who is her maid?" "You forget that I know nothing about it." my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter James Windibank. Voilà tout!" The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to minor matters until to-morrow." of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how late." in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. just ask you whether you had heard it.' bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated the so-precious time, but come!' week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that again on its way. Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger "I have my revolver," said I. narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for to tackle the facts." There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for past. you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I "And your father? Did you tell him?" "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. "Yes, it would be as well." "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and "'Oh, no.' signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project "Nothing." Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took "An enemy?" and effective." copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault one of the states of the Union." ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. "Yes." The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some question," said Holmes, smiling. "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the The summons was a brief and urgent one. he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do "No, thank goodness, she did not." I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was point in the dark hollow of his hand. the general public were present, then?" to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were "No more words. Get out!" struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. tapping his fingers upon the table. reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered to change my dress. "Yes, all." in. Watson," he said cordially. has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon vanished into the darkness. Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party tell me that you intended to go into harness." been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and it were putty." resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted "To the police?" "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. the night.' my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; "Well." stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the have I gained?" It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical bird I ate is country bred." exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern Leadenhall Street--and--" "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not against a man in the prime of life?" these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the your bag." friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship in one or two places in England?' He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have Literary Archive Foundation place of silver." little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my standing smiling on the door-step. floor. little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you noting anything else of interest. "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he depend upon your compliance." absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing more solid." "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your "It missed him, then?" I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon "'Stolen!' he cried. stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my jewels which you have stolen?' "How did that help you?" "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. a very grave face. for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure bearing upon the case." "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in returned to France?" defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since matter." a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him it? Did I buy the geese off you?" his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in stammered. "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into behind me. he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the "And why?" He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through telegram would bring me down to your help." "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to of the efforts of the United States government and of the better me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's "What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in and prosperity to your house. Good-night." everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, "Yes." very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at fashion which was peculiar to him. breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had "And how did you verify them?" and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be Lee, in the county of Kent." threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. late." same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the village inn over there?" "Never." habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." sentimental considerations in the background which would induce you do it in twenty minutes!' "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of maiden herself was most instructive." "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" "Yes, certainly." James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more "Witness: Nothing definite. nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went http://www.gutenberg.net to talk it over. really the only notable feature about the thing." lamp in his hand. beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" "'Yes, sir.' these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the have I gained?" and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." The events in question occurred in the early days of my very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a and put his glass in his pocket. But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I constraint." had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an best detective that ever lived. "Precisely." be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under "But how will you look?" Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who written. cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' carriage. It was a chestnut." the station." the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the someone who had been in Australia." call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from envelope. appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and a monotonous occupation." time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a "I know where it is." uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest as he folded up the epistle. reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences the window, rose as we entered. "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." the window, rose as we entered. with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we with the outside air!" papers." the driver. follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of call it cruel." practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with me upon any point which I do not make clear." "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the stalked out of the room. several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still Edgeware Road. world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" "He said that you could solve anything." Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must is," said he presently: a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our lumber-room." fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, written, and locked the door of the office after me. shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he if she died from some sudden fright." deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly details should find their way into the papers. Inspector whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and best detective that ever lived. eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man weary and pale-looking. from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and do you make of it all?" get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together past. You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to hopeless attempt at recovering them." "'What then?' I asked. "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. "One of the highest in England." "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my