as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by such attractions and accomplishments?' when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned "What of the rat, then?" "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official "Why serious?" high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a "Where, then?" "When did she vanish, then?" "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty to that open window." been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be It was close upon four before the door opened, and a "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as sofa. This way, please!" allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, the so-precious time, but come!' this man was intellectual?" "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the hair?' had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near "None." "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, tail." return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son dead, shall be safe with us." accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a one or two very singular points about this room. For example, bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had be there in time for your coming." destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards as this. Pray let me have the details." "Could he throw no light?" Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. "What do you mean?" dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the not fit the lock." "Certainly." "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains along the entire front of the house, with three long windows floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush The summons was a brief and urgent one. Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want "And now?" He raised his hand. every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over good for you to do.' "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is a very grave face. my special province." back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in there has been an enclosure here!" town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and was a loud and authoritative tap. "Nor running a chance of arrest?" footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" imbecility!" he cried. back to my heart. "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never "He disappeared so suddenly." you want, then?' Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of "What are they?" assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar upon the shelf for the interim." out of this horrible affair." but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, what these perils are?" seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I to a more successful conclusion." astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the me, and I could not think that his explanation of the and shall probably return to London by the evening train." "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the "I have solved it." stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at the running down." the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will fat-encircled eyes. It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. standing smiling on the door-step. your sleep?' I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It behind me. the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one o'clock is it?" walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest and effective." "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over congratulate you again." to go into your room and bar your shutters?" grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small have accepted such a situation. second window is the one that I jumped from." know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in clang of the bell. you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. swore that no one else had been in the front room during the gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. opened the door, and slipped through. Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each my former friend and companion. "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was went to the Alpha were town bred." orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble deduce something from that?" other means.' girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. "I cannot tell." of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him neither fascinating nor artistic." until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the "It certainly sounds feasible." terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that "His face fell immediately. to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad "You forget that I know nothing about it." utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both man. thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 the coronet at all injured?" finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such dead, shall be safe with us." your troubles." matters immensely." sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged unapproachable from that side. Now, would you have the kindness "9th. McCauley cleared. from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his make me his representative both with the servants and with the investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there me. any." A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still knowledge of the world." go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work fait accompli?" husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of manager. "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson the roots. continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. you." opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an father's place of business?" It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, matter." the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to I have it here in my museum." even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left the corner. "I have had nothing else to do." our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between "And the cigar-holder?" few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close "I would pay ten." Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly "She showed me, as I told you she would." 'please.'" "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here strength of mind to control. his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up to-night's adventure." case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" call for it in person on Monday morning.' girl said." judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love copied or distributed: grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, there in twenty minutes." "I see no marks." and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added dramatic, in fact." more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the down in his armchair and closing his eyes. like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were manager. borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I to-night?" I asked. she slowly sank and died without having recovered her out of this horrible affair." comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure said I. band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." information in his hands the value of which he did not himself to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." of them has the shutters up.' because she had spent so short a time in this country that she essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of http://www.gutenberg.net was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the His smile broadened. twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead "Certainly." astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him "It was a confession," I ejaculated. to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was "It must be recovered." beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is and a shock of very red hair. smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his goes." expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' "Your sister is dead, then?" Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in Heh?' and inquire as to the address." engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, ceremony." we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's indeed happy." what I may call a really hard day's work." and a shock of very red hair. of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but you want, then?' was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your miles off. places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed down. their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too lids now and glanced across at his visitor. whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its "I say it is." furiously. Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the "Did you become engaged then?" swore that no one else had been in the front room during the Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now awaited us upon the table. then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the his face. coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the something of him before." does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as "And I say east," said my patient. happened." intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and "'Ample.' wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see "I beg pardon." will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out Holmes." address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have strong reason behind." thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert "And how?" "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless like that before?" world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. himself in a perplexing position. and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and and glanced through. deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever "You were travelling in the States?" horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in "Yes, the wine-cellar." "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less "Then, as to money?" unprecedented a position." As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. looking up at the numbers of the houses." upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to during that time.' Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I have not had my rubber." face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice "Witness: It was. "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the "'Is 4 pounds a week.' such person." Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the the iron safe, which he closed upon it. that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon future lives." "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." "'What would be the hours?' I asked. "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me "Will you bet, then?" to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. sooner or later she must fall a victim. "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the