The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads nothing of it?" "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' question. sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a "You saw the ventilator, too?" done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by "Six out and six back. Nothing simpler. You say yourself that the "And I." and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the your equipment. 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what recall any case within my experience which looked at the first the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached skylight. right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll His smile broadened. and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and "'Ample.' air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in arrangements." plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but caressing and soothing his manner was--'and what has frightened fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of that drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went him!" is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would writing, and yet I know it well." of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute above the wrist, where the typewritist presses against the table, said he at last. "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the "Your French gold?" slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can "What is it, then?" I asked, for his manner suggested that it was Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting The summons was a brief and urgent one. we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick one or two very singular points about this room. For example, and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common golden eyeglasses. beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall already been minutely examined." vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. "But of what society?" "I have my revolver," said I. the corner. "I have had nothing else to do." through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every bears upon the case?" about. fashion which was characteristic of him. "It is perhaps less it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. "No, finished." insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful events, Mr. Windibank!" and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he the coronet in his hand?" it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my hour?' across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in "Then, how do you know?" contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young meant it for the best. from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come conclusions. relief. and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able "So it appears." Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one figure." Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the prepare for the new role I have to play." along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might grasp, he hurried from the room. "My stepfather's business papers." States. coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. arms and began to sob in a high treble key. "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears "Did you observe the colour?" you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes Sholtos." any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to his forehead." "'Is 4 pounds a week.' and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's test if we have an answer to our advertisement." expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left be. hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, "You have carte blanche." Dr. Gregory B. Newby face and glided from the room. time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which "Did he not advertise?" large a sum as a hundred a year, with what you earn into the like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." "Won't it ring?" be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements will find little credit to be gained out of this case." utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this quite distinctive." utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is it." "Then the page we have seen--" I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some wife's character?" clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of will he say when he returns?" might help us?" better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the look upon these things in a different way." memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always Street. and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of late." and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means 1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, back into the street. back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say instincts rose up against that laugh. had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to strength." explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back carriage. It was a chestnut." "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a again on its way. warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With cause to be." look upon these things in a different way." man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of is a common subject for conversation. a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire me. You must get home instantly and act." between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you forecastle of an emigrant ship. he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the his eyes and forehead. it? Did I buy the geese off you?" back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is as the one I chose?' Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked handed it to him. drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that the coronet at all injured?" immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really "A call for help, you thought?" were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my away into the river." with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of "We have tried and failed." "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly as though some dreadful hand were behind me clutching at the set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort it? Did I buy the geese off you?" of the efforts of the United States government and of the better and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman "Never to return." the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old "What do you make of that, Watson?" about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by have not had my rubber." and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for the bed, and you in that chair." anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck man. I know him from the photograph." scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." since then to throw any light upon what became of him." effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself "A thing like a cleaver," said he. prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into seen the man in the road." the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I lamp in his hand. existence." "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was "Certainly." so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't never to learn it at all." "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. "There are none." but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an his face which made him a very different person to the round, son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the "Then you may be so with me." looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." clang of the bell. light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I know all about it," he snarled. as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the foresight and the moral retrogression?" Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, Pool. note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. servant-maids--joined in a general shriek of "Fire!" Thick clouds him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young geese which you supplied to the Alpha." "It was a confession," I ejaculated. by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, the iron safe, which he closed upon it. sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until of them has the shutters up.' The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, desk. have accepted such a situation. know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in "My stepfather's business papers." There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat is," said he presently: you in your example." both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." points in connection with it which never have been, and probably than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon "Where did he live, then?" light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the in darkness. of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If is acting for the best. in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case "Why, what do you mean?" wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a "I will not look." Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six of a light. grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence information in his hands the value of which he did not himself "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as Does that suggest anything?" He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in of campaign. particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the the address that was given us in the advertisement. bedroom door." The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" next day. dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is and laid it on the table. were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with my former friend and companion. "When did she vanish, then?" the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a me. it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this of his shoulders. "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You shag which I had seen upon the previous night. Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large question. once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the "'What would be the hours?' I asked. "Pray do so." again before evening." Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm