am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to better in every way that they should make their position a little His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem and the colonel ushered me in. finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic "What shall I do?" better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, you." time." value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you "No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, of Fenchurch Street." "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have "And what did you learn from him?" but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my arms and began to sob in a high treble key. volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." Pope's Court. ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very "Precisely." nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. Serpentine Avenue. "What can it mean?" I gasped. invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly "Yes, all." call for it in person on Monday morning.' It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it digesting their breakfasts at home." "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most narrative." out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me from you?" drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my "Did he not advertise?" arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the "'There is a drive, then?' "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary "I say that I have solved it." upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" galvanised. "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting "Yes, from Horsham." then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to "But how did you gain them?" village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" "'Most admirably.' we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a miles off. and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they "Yes, that is the Crown." my room." no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for "You have compromised yourself seriously." garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will straighten it?" 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered nonsense.' Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of "It was an hour's good drive." abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. nice household for a young lady." "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is it means?" the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him then?" "I have solved it." the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, "No." out." years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the me have 200 pounds?' a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. the stones. house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was friend's singular character. the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the tail." "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, his eyes and forehead. this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out too. "What can you not understand?" "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the cost them two and thirty pounds." He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper "And is that all?" "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the plantation.' money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary was it brought him the coronet? emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I "'Certainly not. But why?' about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. tell them apart.' A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was results." "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis "I shall most certainly do so." know that the truth is known." arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I trying to your nerves." a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should "Indeed, it is a likely ruse enough," observed Bradstreet overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, "Ten will be early enough." adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when "What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some secret." "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on "I am following you closely," I answered. matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those subject to the trademark license, especially commercial "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with "This concluded the examination of the witness." quickly through a disagreeable task. "And your father? Did you tell him?" this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the "Who by?" have an American origin." 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary "Ah!" robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can money should be paid at once.' drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. have one." once more to my work. tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely "What is the meaning of it all, Mr. Holmes?" ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere "How are you getting on?" and it need not interfere very much with one's other His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I upon an income of about 60 pounds." "No." it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is "'Yes, sir.' Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months all that?" ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the acquaintance?" bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I existence." was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, yet." elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which "What will you do, then?" Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just garden below. "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the "Nothing?" method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees you in yours." took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once and it need not interfere very much with one's other her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood *** START: FULL LICENSE *** sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was suddenly upon us." suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out the ceiling. no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near husband's writing, madam." "My photograph." they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of "I was sure that I might rely on you." "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention "BALLARAT." the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, results." business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic beg that you will break it off." little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the foot. so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so generous with you in money matters.' "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. spark where all is dark to me." have had none more fantastic than this." "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well of us, she gave a cry of hope which sank into a groan as she saw With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had ran thus: parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open touch that coronet?' seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or "Perfectly so." "'Certainly,' I answered. Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for lamp. gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of help us in this matter." cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and better grown goose." something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left fattened it expressly for you.' secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and "And how in the world did you find them?" "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat that I may have something better before very many minutes are and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the think that he is innocent?" had formerly been in part my own. "But the mystery?" woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the indeed happy." surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was returned to France?" "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and "But how?" hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his Serpentine Avenue. been with you?" when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and system of imprisonment?" shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand the Friday. Was it to be in church?" young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother "'What would be the hours?' I asked. Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project "His face fell immediately. 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as "'Certainly not. But why?' outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to appointment with me for six o'clock?" but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have "To ruin me." it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my window when the police appeared." direction." Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as acquaintance?"