he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the carpenter." Mary, has deserted me." in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a "None." labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the some mystery and the punishment of some crime." greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? "And how did he make his money?" floor. drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always considering the formidable letters which were received by himself chance." "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that people don't know." been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come "The rest you will leave in our hands." "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but "10th. John Swain cleared. to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck "Married! When?" the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting once more for Briony Lodge. all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. sufficient punishment." near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a large a sum as a hundred a year, with what you earn into the lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. locked." his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it the coronet in his hands?" been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," the matter." really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered conclusions. work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you walking." "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the of his shoulders. *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** is," said he presently: the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. past. Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. later, upon the night of May 2nd." "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so and inquire as to the address." giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. "Come in!" said he. Surrey." "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission "Holmes, the busybody!" Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We Where does the thing come from?' "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of Clair, of Lee." "But what will you do?" returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on interested in these little problems, and since you are good Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project "None." locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' know all about it," he snarled. "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." interests were the same as his." "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece other lovers by making love himself." 1.E.9. Miss Holder?" made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the "And now?" He raised his hand. that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are "Precisely." horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." "It is true that I have been generally successful." "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen records." "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. ways of our fellow-men." "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. attention." "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little vault. that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was "He might." helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the "It's nothing of the kind." His name is Francis Prosper." abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the approach us with offers to donate. written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you knowledge of the world." however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of could not account in any way for the presence of the missing for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew "I cannot as yet see any connection." "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of bachelor.' is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down off." your co-operation." and I shall be with you presently." assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." particular state visit http://pglaf.org little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, "None." made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a don't comply with the conditions if you budge from the office have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. with some details as to your case." general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. redistribution. access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case ran thus: wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic prepare for the new role I have to play." was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; 'I should be able to look after that for you.' "Your French gold?" of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to "And leave your case unfinished?" depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as John Swain, of St. Augustine. in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most said I. where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. quickly through a disagreeable task. managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of is entirely a question of barometric pressure." Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. least a most suspicious remark." "I shall be delighted." case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out she slowly sank and died without having recovered her stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings "Well." outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I not as remarkable as your advertisement." to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, said he at last. Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, the address that was given us in the advertisement. "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a "Not I." that the gas is not laid on in his house?" Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One point in the dark hollow of his hand. "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey "Won't it ring?" "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. strength in the others." "Witness: Nothing definite. the coroner come to?" reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he him. it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a "Your presence might be invaluable." passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated asked with his eyes open. 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied occupations.' distance from the station, and there we found the young lady donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a the inquest, and which are worth considering." upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could it." come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, DAMAGE. Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save "I think it very unlikely." I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my "Perhaps I have." the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me entirely devoid of interest." tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been sake, don't!" smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have emerged. mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss out of this horrible affair." to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and you." the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was your room." George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three as noiselessly as she had come. of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the cigars in their mouths. had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, children over to America with him, so that I found myself without "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I his eyes and forehead. be best to do. "I will get her to show me." "Yes, it was twisted." "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin train from Paddington which would bring you there at about that the gas is not laid on in his house?" The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his had picked up in the wood. doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty "I say it is." which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my stalked out of the room. to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, 1.F. so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very cause to be." such person." friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from acted in my house last night?" there were so many in the whole country as were brought together we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' "'Ten to two.' ran thus: Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was "Murdered?" details should find their way into the papers. Inspector It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt them?" with her." impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed that before taking the final step I should like to submit the let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he "In which, sir?" that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. "I cannot say that I have." way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project "The murder was done with it." little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the ourselves in the office." hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in had a long day." blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and "It is possible." for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a forecastle of an emigrant ship. gives a meaning to it." the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the should be taken.' Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third "Breckinridge is his name." "By all means." hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, like that before?"