nonsense.' "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more to take care of herself." a suggestive one." Countess of Morcar's?" Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his "And what did you see?" weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting business?" For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has Eyford." and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of "In which, sir?" noting anything else of interest. appeared upon the scene." breakfast?" "Precisely." human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between did not hear it also.' if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted considering the formidable letters which were received by himself "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which few hundred pounds.' "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the your own bird, so if you wish--" look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were I shall communicate with you." who was a member of your goose club." age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before in the hope of finding them." drawing your inferences." "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and breakfast?" akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." infinite languor in his face. 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at "No, thank goodness, she did not." I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that some terrible trap for her." day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, "Who by?" "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss "I am following you closely," I answered. to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and there were one or two details which were new to me. But the humiliation." in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you are, and they are waiting for us." arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal point in the dark hollow of his hand. into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off a few minutes he said that it would be all right. matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is his forehead." prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the "No. What a strange idea!" dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how "Whose house is it?" client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found formed some opinion?" completely overtopped every other consideration that we both the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and mystery may be cleared along those lines." side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the "Ten will be early enough." greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to you understand?" the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young the tragedy. accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. which it had come upon my father." "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately the matter?" helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had peculiar to him. a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his "BALLARAT." tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us "What are they?" "None." became a certainty. 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may is worth.' the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." "Well, it is a possible supposition." "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a "Yes, that is the Crown." "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' "I was certainly surprised to find you there." in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, vague figure huddled up in the darkness. time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, "She will not sell." poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique "And what then?" pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a "They are typewritten," I remarked. "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. she to prove their authenticity?" that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight "I will get her to show me." "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." John Swain, of St. Augustine. opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been and prosperity to your house. Good-night." "You horrify me!" "There is the writing." "That is easily got." matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and detained." was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders least a fellow-countryman. seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, their singular warning or token before them when starting upon been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. tear off another piece?' indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum least a most suspicious remark." "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just straighten it?" discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after in my life." values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over "Imitated." I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a three of the beryls in it, was missing. the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three "Then, how do you know?" penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours "And you don't know his address?" man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction "And on what day did he meet his death?" seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a fuss that is made over them." and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which some place of shelter and let the county police know what has "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what of note-paper. It read in this fashion: work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." "Yes." had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a "'Tell me all about it,' said I. out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it washing it down with a long draught of water. cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." think you a quite exceptional woman." phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then few hundred pounds.' forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and other lovers by making love himself." has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep "None." minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, Serpentine Avenue. the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an impression behind it as though a window had gently closed think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear seven miles from Eyford Station.' natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America test if we have an answer to our advertisement." should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him "No?" learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black with some details as to your case." "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, unprofitable." over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these "You did not overhear what they said?" "But she will refuse." "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and careless servant girl?" Henry Baker is a member." other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; Eyford." the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but "He said too much." tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You "How did you deduce the select?" building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could him. he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At "I see no marks." despaired of." Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the "'As governess?' companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out "Will you go?" "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United your troubles." his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not at a side door. was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; father's place of business?" "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I chamber." was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. been lifted and conveyed somewhere." Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a together. have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our pity, because in other respects you would really have done very "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." goes." slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, then! can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. "Then I do not see the point." at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us one of the states of the Union." "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are mystery may be cleared along those lines." people don't know." way: in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. "It is true that I have been generally successful." the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to it. his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of walking." "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose rooms." "You are all wrong." dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the shoulder. sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. point our research must commence, and we will begin it by arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, "The King of Scandinavia." "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his "My last client of the sort was a king." "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and was used.' with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage time." outsides of the windows. surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is Holmes. "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose me, and I could not think that his explanation of the farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when "None." "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My "Indeed! Whose, then?" Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that never will be, entirely cleared up. these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly that, and I came down." had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in signal between you and your father? into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in once more to my work. my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the papers." About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly appointment with me for six o'clock?" frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" "The murder was done with it." "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only the bottom.' "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. the date of his supposed suicide." or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared some place of shelter and let the county police know what has lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us Literary Archive Foundation relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice "'What are you doing there?' he asked. "Ample." effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is threw himself down with his face to the pillow. member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming