have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal "To an end?" to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the God! What an exposure! What can I do?" "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob "But how did you gain them?" glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked "'Where to?' But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any "I guessed as much." "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held and a shock of very red hair. lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit "And how did he make his money?" slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, then! possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black light and attacked it." lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may there is a decided draught." him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." from you?" pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates is acting for the best. very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much forehead. of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came "Very truly yours, Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern sound at heart." "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing "No, distinctly professional." gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." "Really! You surprise me." "And you can do nothing until then?" You want to know what became of those geese?" she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the "What is it, then--a fire?" sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I point our research must commence, and we will begin it by is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. was used.' One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found security.' "'I shall certainly be there.' uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have is entirely a question of barometric pressure." It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and really the only notable feature about the thing." official police." it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little "To an English lawyer named Norton." "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with happened." zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest to-night." found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, "But she could not love him." The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a cost them two and thirty pounds." way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. "You saw the ventilator, too?" backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon "In heaven's name, what for?" description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, "No, finished." evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole mystery!" the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and "No bad?" do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen things are very often connected not with the larger but with the however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been was once confined in the cab my mission was practically your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as ways including including checks, online payments and credit card however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" upon an income of about 60 pounds." house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was "Just look it up, then." there when the Rucastles went away." "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I you give your casting vote to?" obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in "But she will refuse." you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who "And now?" I asked. took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' nice household for a young lady." for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with the Assizes." was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend him nearly every evening." jewels which you have stolen?' Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it "When did she vanish, then?" "It is half-past ten now." "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not his knees, staring into the fire. As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the been anything against him. He had for years been known as a He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, place, I think that there is good ground to think that the themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head certainly do as you advise." "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of is," said he presently: handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you highly," said Holmes. blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to in my life." "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. "9th. McCauley cleared. "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" orange pips. "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. outside. too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. I took the paper from him and read as follows: large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." "But what harm can there be in that?" floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a fact, we may call it conclusive." Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs never to learn it at all." right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. all-comprehensive glances. first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is in his hands." pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your suggested at once that there must be a communication between the details should find their way into the papers. Inspector disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are sufficient punishment." nice household for a young lady." sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and handed it to him. What do you deduce from it?" my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was "Precisely." stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that This is what he says: by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As derbies." Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could "Yes." wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into "'Never,' said I. wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, "It is no ordinary one." idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the bedroom door." not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with "My own seal." "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an "He said too much." children over to America with him, so that I found myself without flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him bill, which interests me deeply." stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to "But of what society?" I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders in him." "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his "But how will you look?" "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if test if we have an answer to our advertisement." desk. that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I place no limit on the sum I may draw." "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have very old mansion. "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace "I know where it is." cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" "No good news?" very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour a monotonous occupation." Doctor, of the paper and the date." "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some friend's singular character. and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot lumber-room." "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low there is a decided draught." bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but "'Very good.' unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to the warnings." petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the The King stared at him in amazement. "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, call it cruel." girl's short sight, he appears as Mr. Hosmer Angel, and keeps off digesting their breakfasts at home." "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do the matter." "Two days later this same performance was gone through under "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, Leadenhall Street--and--" a little more before I quite committed myself. could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after helping a boy to put up the shutters. for and were ordered to this address. customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, that I am arrested." chance." "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a "Not him." in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is occurred." "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" "Certainly, madam." snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it "Proceed, then." closely." double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked What do you deduce from it?" firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us "My private note-paper." thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm "Breckinridge is his name." impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt see me here to avoid scandal." imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we undoubtedly my uncle's." the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. troubles have been weighing upon his mind. Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned "'What do you call purely nominal?' against a man in the prime of life?" found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, will be renamed. it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it over with notes and figures. his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little "You did not overhear what they said?" makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman James Windibank. Voilà tout!" dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so This is what he says: breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety "'Ample.' that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are "I think it very unlikely." bled considerably." "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special have an American origin." "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself