of us, she gave a cry of hope which sank into a groan as she saw by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a "But how?" Watson," he said cordially. moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. the child." I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some come either from the window or the door. My attention was "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with "But you were on a friendly footing?" "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I "You are all wrong." congenial hunt. time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the your only hope of safety." however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of It may be so in this case, also." did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a "I promise," said Holmes. You want to know what became of those geese?" thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to to-night." there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. fish-monger and a tide-waiter." which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of of note-paper. It read in this fashion: honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his this poor creature." salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he gives a meaning to it." "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and "Did he not advertise?" note?" "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did cheerful." burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. here and I will read it to you: in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to "It is half-past ten now." "He might." "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact I held the little printed slip to the light. "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the such attractions and accomplishments?' "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." "What will you do, then?" knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a possible that we could bring him back to her? could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which "The landlord of the Alpha." them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face along the entire front of the house, with three long windows connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, call for it in person on Monday morning.' can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is "It is solved." room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler "Quite so. She has her freedom." always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance he bowed and left the room without another word. And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a introspective fashion. "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate cup of tea. "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his one's self under obligations.' the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not "But what is it you wish?" strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business "That was it, sir." "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to interest. They are important, you understand, without being very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two "You will not go there first?" can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having your sleep?' "Why? What do you mean?" marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated this remarkable episode. keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the goes." to tell." hand, madam?" "Yes, it was twisted." elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really "So I heard. You have him here?" Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for to-night." what I may call a really hard day's work." statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be "You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." these bleak autumnal evenings." "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return "No good news?" Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we opportunities to fix the problem. and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying said I. know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging Heh?' before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have "'Tell me all about it,' said I. I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." power." was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was "Very murderous indeed." some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be tell him that I know him to be innocent." voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he carriage. It was a chestnut." them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, Doctor, of the paper and the date." The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure triumphant cloud from his cigarette. cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was "Yes, the wine-cellar." said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had gone before you can get him to hospital." introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I past. that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have "And you can do nothing until then?" have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows hurried by. quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of lost his Christmas dinner." "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a "In San Francisco, a year ago." man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of careless servant girl?" facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in "No." in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two formed some opinion?" imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have "Did your wife hear all this?" law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; infinite languor in his face. laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with "'Is purely nominal.' My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly crime." gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you "And I." foresight and the moral retrogression?" house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew "I cannot imagine." than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, country, and eventually married, without anyone having a the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have again." "Where is it, then?" "No. His orders were to stay in the house." professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread "I would pay ten." not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. "And help." Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several at my own good fortune. again before evening." description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from clang of the bell. "But his lameness?" it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do look upon these things in a different way." away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you "We were both in the photograph." clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope done what I asked you, Jones?" "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I "A thing like a cleaver," said he. his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. II. half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce For additional contact information: only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. trying to your nerves." professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of "But who is he?" years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and "She will not sell." frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" your co-operation." Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental of the vacancies.' four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in be. wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet suddenly upon us." a few minutes he said that it would be all right. former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened money should be paid at once.' "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative "Yes." Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the sake, don't!" without success. At last the little money which I had saved began prepare for the new role I have to play." The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough impression behind it as though a window had gently closed served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector highly," said Holmes. or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not the coroner come to?" "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." outbreak?" every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we the south-west, I see." glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would right! Sit down and let us talk it over." hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. that you wished to speak to me?' and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, our word." public press." suspect him." "No, distinctly professional." firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' "What of the rat, then?" of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of "So I am. Very much so." police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that chemical work which was so dear to him. cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, coffee, for I observe that you are shivering." essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney "Yes, all." Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a corner of the building. twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months "I am all attention, madam." my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think father's young wife. "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of "You have but to name it." "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all like that before?" It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is "I have sworn it by the most solemn oaths which a man can take." ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent me." politicians who had been sent down from the North. therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is