American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always "She walked into the breakfast-room." to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a opened the door, and slipped through. "He slept on the premises." the very morning of the wedding." desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." allusion to a rat. sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me "It is possible." again on its way. savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving call for protection in the marriage market, for the present "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to been lifted and conveyed somewhere." washing it down with a long draught of water. Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you do.' compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any "Is he quiet?" "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a me have 200 pounds?' Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short "How did that help you?" strange features which were associated with the two crimes which other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you again before evening." "Witness: Nothing definite. perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray weapon." vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to "You have but to name it." disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical eavesdroppers?' of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." "Yes, it was twisted." upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were said he. occurred." contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your "But what will you do?" have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" gbnewby@pglaf.org "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my happened." little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the Eyford at 11:15.' perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country acquaintance?" was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful servant-maids--joined in a general shriek of "Fire!" Thick clouds once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his "But to whom?" Count Von Kramm." freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear read over the extraordinary announcement. seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, she might be summoned. safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It that he will be back before evening." relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most voice, changing her seat as requested. "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. laugh and put his lips to my ear. the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was sit on the left-hand side of the driver." other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom chamber." enter Dr. Roylott's room." yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless "And help." It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a "Never to return." whether it answered to the description of any of their foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, of fine shops and stately business premises that they really "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your all that?" be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was "Where to?" "Was there a secret marriage?" will not take me long to tell. He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord business in the City. She little knew what. them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more "Why did you pick him?" A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United lumber-room." the armchair which I pushed forward for him. Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is London for the present?" quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, "And help." 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and "Not in the least." one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her beyond words. It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though away in different directions, and I went off to make my own there." downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, and laid it on the table. very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want golden eyeglasses. "'Tell me all about it,' said I. "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as pity, because in other respects you would really have done very the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very window when the police appeared." gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read address. was lame." America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and gone. points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with you for a few hours?" wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in four million human beings all jostling each other within the the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The Holmes' room. his face which made him a very different person to the round, "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran to surprise her." uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote "If so, much may have happened between." "And I to find an enemy." is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of questionable one." danger is over." it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." "Very. But will he see it?" know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a and inquire as to the address." its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who "It is very kind of you." evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a digesting their breakfasts at home." hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. directors have had misgivings upon the subject." controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But "Dirty?" "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the "I should wish to." Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. "Absolutely none." "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For extraordinary contortions. seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, any little problem which you may submit to me." successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by vault. you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." and your relations to her." about. "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance "'What would be the hours?' I asked. the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. "But to whom?" to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another even of instruction." "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered Holmes. "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies think that any burglar could have done. is so. I know all about McCarthy." examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was abroad, and he has been in failing health for some time. This in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case to go into your room and bar your shutters?" parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is begin with, and I had not got mine yet." voice, changing her seat as requested. practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is against a man in the prime of life?" "Stoke Moran?" said he. to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one been shamefully used." and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which front of me. "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You think that he is innocent?" delighted to hear it," he said. "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a that threaten you." fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman together. are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is "Always." other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden "It is possible." perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your place of silver." contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I telegram would bring me down to your help." feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. said he, "my real name is James Ryder." I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The fear." however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." must be when I saw the door open.' grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. with frightened eyes at his accuser. "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour "'What then?' I asked. not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him Sutherland. To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. "The landlord of the Alpha." protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the know that the truth is known." convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the the coronet in his hands?" which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, "Was he the only applicant?" his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, a room. "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture "'Most admirably.' Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The have been better. It is all right." Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he before, for it was considerably after midnight. unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. yards of it?' "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two "What can you not understand?" "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it writing, and yet I know it well." make me his representative both with the servants and with the astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may arms and began to sob in a high treble key. "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob 1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to detained." conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated "Very. But will he see it?" "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I Countess of Morcar's?" "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, fuss that is made over them." "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most lids now and glanced across at his visitor. purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I "I have sworn it by the most solemn oaths which a man can take." old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less "The knees of his trousers." begun to whiten, even as mine has." generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop new duties?' complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers "Yes, sir." "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is giving me time to thank him. a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was affection." "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and said he. erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson "No, thank goodness, she did not." all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the your room." glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in system of imprisonment?" his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a with the outside air!" "'What are you doing there?' he asked. the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by grasp, he hurried from the room. enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been "I cannot think." deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. "Just look it up, then." shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society you in your example." served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He into her hand at the door and which lured her within their "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his in your London, you will know that the office of the company is determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the "'Yes, sir.' "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so Sutherland. maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, maiden herself was most instructive." said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes singular points about the case. What did the police think of the The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment perplexity from it to my illustrious client. "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped "'What then?' I asked. "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. opened the door, and slipped through. address. "What! a murderous attack?" looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a room?" "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite married her." return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my