Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save problems help me to do so." dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of mysterious business." frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" "Pray continue your narrative." "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the "Yes, it was twisted." "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found occurred." "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend was a perfect sample of the class. this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built caressing and soothing his manner was--'and what has frightened disturbance in my wife." fuss that is made over them." room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' For additional contact information: to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is tapping his fingers upon the table. "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, to you." giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" "You forget that I know nothing about it." had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have begin with, and I had not got mine yet." sneer upon his pale face. "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, ready to-morrow?' now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. do you make of it all?" "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." "Yes, I have one waiting." "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what "Yes." jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to walking." "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, "Yes." agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm "It is possible." excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked such attractions and accomplishments?' "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring the inquest, and which are worth considering." red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before easy-going way." "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning to talk it over. faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and "Was there a secret marriage?" - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his "No. What a strange idea!" It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some page at http://pglaf.org unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always is so. I know all about McCarthy." about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the and laid it on the table. my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the away to you." once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my cigar and let me expound." which we had just quitted. out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of along the entire front of the house, with three long windows the dangers which encompass me." We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for generous with you in money matters.' reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" be sorry for having acted so harshly." an introduction to him?" Chief Executive and Director ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge himself. what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing or in danger--" of receipt of the work. THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. golden eyeglasses. "Game for a morning drive?" not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that fuss that is made over them." at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most "'And the work?' "No." staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea "And how in the world did you find them?" something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He to-night." "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the fishes. "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this lonely houses, each in its own fields, filled for the most part had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. have an American origin." "Texas, I think." call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning coat-tails." "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was been shamefully used." "You have but to name it." Henry Baker is a member." "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been before the coroner and the police-court." adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden "Nothing." "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this second window is the one that I jumped from." small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in throat." despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have "Did he not advertise?" and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention above the wrist, where the typewritist presses against the table, letters?" he died? strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away sufficient punishment." approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a "What can it mean?" I gasped. "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. nothing of it?" "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, could not account in any way for the presence of the missing good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his "It is half-past ten now." "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the "You forget that I know nothing about it." which I could not give. He asked for Alice. grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, me upon any point which I do not make clear." theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. were wasted." room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his that before taking the final step I should like to submit the call you and give you the chance." American. Then who could this American be, and why should he ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the always that they were such commands as a lady might with passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or "I never have." "No." name is different." waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he unprofitable." life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but towards the blaze. "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser have been better. It is all right." "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have "It is possible." and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never Dr. Gregory B. Newby seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at you." opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, to take care of herself." he. completely overtopped every other consideration that we both As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in note?" been anything against him. He had for years been known as a As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, room had already been engaged for us. quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a "'What, the red-headed man?' man. not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very "One of the highest in England." too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, served to weaken the effect. "'I shall certainly be there.' Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." bedroom door." now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature "And when will you call?" to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked without a word or a look. this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" "It came here." distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange said Mr. Holder. a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A "But you were on a friendly footing?" reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." the station." will find little credit to be gained out of this case." remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been into her hand at the door and which lured her within their Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the it? Did I buy the geese off you?" 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, brain must have something in it." held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of with the outside air!" some water from a caraffe. "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me "Pray do so." "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, to take care of herself." chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy of campaign. hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in noting anything else of interest. "No, I had a dozen." that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No official police." was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full "In San Francisco, a year ago." two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we James Windibank running at the top of his speed down the road. there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" him nearly every evening." the matter?" with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such "At the wedding breakfast." elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. "'A dozen yards or so.' "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a not interfere, come what may. You understand?" "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" "But how could you guess what the motive was?" wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. is now desirous of getting those letters back." fashion which was peculiar to him. "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. "Yes." James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not new acquaintance to Baker Street. other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her "Quite so." secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. "You don't mind breaking the law?" "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am at a side door. puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained "Because he was handy and would come cheap." dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, "What can it mean?" I gasped. his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned Surrey." "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' "Here?" "I do." justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project distance from the station, and there we found the young lady headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an read over the extraordinary announcement. "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." existence." recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a some place of shelter and let the county police know what has occurred." should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son