so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when anything to a woman, for she would have her way." your own bird, so if you wish--" had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have call for protection in the marriage market, for the present against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out lost his Christmas dinner." order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss least a most suspicious remark." it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in country, and eventually married, without anyone having a and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the that?' Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before to-morrow." bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey bill, which interests me deeply." sneer upon his pale face. "Why did you pick him?" as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" which should have the effect of calling the attention of the plantation.' conduct the inquiry." you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have she to prove their authenticity?" moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream attention." be sorry for having acted so harshly." appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all business matters.' some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be on re-entering her father's house?" would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb month. 'You shall not have a farthing from me,' I cried, on which his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." "Really! You surprise me." beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to "And I." well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, prepare for the new role I have to play." really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, "I warn you that they are very incomplete." was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate hand, madam?" Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of go back?" that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. as noiselessly as she had come. the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off and glanced through. Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very "Why did you pick him?" that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him "But we can't all be." "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the "And how have you succeeded?" Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said that I am arrested." and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. indeed which he could not unravel. "Could he throw no light?" this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. delighted to hear it," he said. nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in "'Is purely nominal.' newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the "What can you not understand?" emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from Holmes. at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and "Certainly, madam." this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." husband's writing, madam." "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed "Yes, I have one waiting." and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates look upon these things in a different way." to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This the little opening for the ventilator is." "What will you say?" out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in his face which made him a very different person to the round, human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid promised to bring home. "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and had a long day." threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward there were so many in the whole country as were brought together him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of used to be." forecastle of an emigrant ship. happened." "Holmes, the busybody!" before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she "Why did you pick him?" breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has your troubles." step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small "If so, much may have happened between." us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, indeed which he could not unravel. explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall coffee, for I observe that you are shivering." Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other writing, and yet I know it well." wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he again to the corner, still looking keenly at the houses. Finally the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The "You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the crowd. night.' said he. lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers "I shall most certainly do so." saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt dear old homesteads?" conceal it?" forehead. wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the it right.' "I cannot tell." as this. Pray let me have the details." company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who it." treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say occurred." isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything "To ruin me." house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," hurried away. then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in correct than the official force." "What office?" kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I "At what time?" not within a twentieth part of the market price." black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, "What shall I do?" for and were ordered to this address. then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and of the vacancies.' clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." depend upon your compliance." He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," Foundation acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a would apply.' Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" young Openshaw's." long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to had this final quarrel? me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, place no limit on the sum I may draw." considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have "Very well, sir. And this stone?" 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a I nodded to show that I had heard. writers could invent nothing more crude." rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, which should have the effect of calling the attention of the pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and is so. I know all about McCarthy." about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might "Where did you address your letters, then?" from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing "I should be immensely obliged to you." "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his "Certainly." What do you deduce from it?" may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to "And it is--" inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the village inn over there?" I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." to-night?' "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot already been minutely examined." housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" "Why? What do you mean?" Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been fatally injured? "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, in a friendly supper." business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend "Certainly." following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." to-night." found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal such person." "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the ill-usage at the hands of fortune. to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know "So I am. Very much so." given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen derbies." helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." the matter?" his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little "On Monday." "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in "By train from Waterloo." papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the "Yes." hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' beg that you will break it off." looking up at the numbers of the houses." course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm you in your example." France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was "Ah, but I was recommended to you." meant." name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the weary and pale-looking. acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was definite end. them, and came down just as you departed. credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the "Married! When?" digesting their breakfasts at home." occurred." he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every friend's singular character. acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. "And your father? Did you tell him?" but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom "Well?" interest. They are important, you understand, without being dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not most interesting one." fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the are, I think, all that we need." until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would chair. anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & http://gutenberg.net/license). "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone "Indeed, it is a likely ruse enough," observed Bradstreet "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt "Why, it's a dummy," said he. sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in heavy and sharp instrument." He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a weigh very heavily upon my conscience." young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend "So I have heard." suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to her also." voice, changing her seat as requested. I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul If you but make such reparation as is in your power, by telling family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was "'Why that?' I asks. upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of stood on the top of it. sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at lamp in his hand. upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. swore that no one else had been in the front room during the consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step "'Yes, sir.' force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, "It is half-past ten now." shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." other, as fresh and trim as possible. have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me hands. been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes!