my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in occupation, but was interested in several companies and went into call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and "'Is 4 pounds a week.' his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this "'Certainly not.' you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice too. went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, enough to aid us in our search." you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. "That was it, sir." be. Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. crime. Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite go--none." of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know the south-west, I see." upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it outsides of the windows. "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" have established a very serious case against the son of the which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes British peeress.'" that you can jump it.' dear old homesteads?" Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, writer." "Your sister is dead, then?" Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, tightly behind him. years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, "Was she in good spirits?" The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the had this final quarrel? only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away forehead. use an arc-and-compass breastpin." "Very. But will he see it?" who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and quickly through a disagreeable task. d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do fattened it expressly for you.' done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read "At what time?" here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon points to suicide?" When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll comes from the middle window." had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of burst out into a roar of laughter. "I cannot say that I have." The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there "How did you deduce the select?" the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will constraint." "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy go--none." and the colonel ushered me in. the address that was given us in the advertisement. grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' through." "I cannot think." Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened mystery!" just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that during which he might have communicated with his friend the happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There may have an influence upon European history." that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's in the dead of the night?' routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had three of the beryls in it, was missing. "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was "Why serious?" "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly "But his left-handedness." he. sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could which should have the effect of calling the attention of the Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the bears upon the case?" "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, carriage. It was a chestnut." laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate in a very precise fashion." "Then he might have called to you?" to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the servant-maids--joined in a general shriek of "Fire!" Thick clouds hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut it? Did I buy the geese off you?" money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted "To the police?" "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet walking." Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he "You horrify me!" in this way: springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding him." Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of happened." "What! a murderous attack?" ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that http://www.gutenberg.net of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. "Where, then, is my wife?" succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly there was no need for father to know." and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend get her out of the way." said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." my friend's incisive reasoning. the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the could not account in any way for the presence of the missing utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman nonsense.' could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." to a light-house. very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything less than 26s. 4d. "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to father's young wife. "'Stolen!' he cried. were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back test if we have an answer to our advertisement." hour?' wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and "Then you may entirely rely on me." "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." stalked out of the room. "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you caressing and soothing his manner was--'and what has frightened know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of upon the shelf for the interim." "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, the Red-headed League." asked with his eyes open. at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set conceal it?" at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these prove to be little relation between the different incidents of explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been is worth.' of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new green of the new foliage. detained." explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" points in connection with it which never have been, and probably "In San Francisco, a year ago." "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way. I "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of "No." little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building "'There is a drive, then?' "'Not at all. I only doubt--' "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start bears upon the case?" "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small fluttered off among the others. and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will coat-tails." "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I "Where did he live, then?" Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY for the market.' in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To to some other building. ventilator." zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I "No more words. Get out!" and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which furiously. said Mr. Holder. few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's the very morning of the wedding." and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and "Never." ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." Surrey." great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City "Very. But will he see it?" The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of gone. forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he noting anything else of interest. copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he "Yes, it would be as well." grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" you." to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house "She showed me, as I told you she would." my special province." feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made "In your heart of hearts, do you think that Neville is alive?" however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. "No." has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to man. to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk to take care of herself." suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in "'How far from the body?' determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. in the port of London." the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few you." ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt or other trace. But how on earth--" halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." there were so many in the whole country as were brought together Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely that there was nothing in it, after all." But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. vanished into the darkness. supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong them present such singular features as the strange train of a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" think that he is innocent?" "Yes, from Horsham." at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of characteristics, but those are the more obvious." "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him in my life." "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an "Do you know him?" States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm maid will bring up your coffee." "Ah!" this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she criminal. We have already had experience of such." matter over." houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of as this. Pray let me have the details." Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his to a light-house. she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable "And your father? Did you tell him?" furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor "And how have you succeeded?" never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of golden eyeglasses. these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was "'I shall certainly be there.' Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such "That is also quite modern," said the lady. copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave vanished into the darkness. had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may