least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the would then never go into court at all." course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every if she died from some sudden fright." result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. to some other building. been." his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the of us, she gave a cry of hope which sank into a groan as she saw "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and tear off another piece?' struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of "You have but to name it." submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. examine." will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement the very letters. But what is this written above them?' great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed corner of the building. electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without what is your own theory as to what took place?" "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great Chief Executive and Director photograph?" slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly things are very often connected not with the larger but with the "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her Pope's Court. however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the least a most suspicious remark." scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by http://gutenberg.net/license). and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. events, Mr. Windibank!" when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something "And why?" "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a now. It seems that there had been some informality about their the coronet in his hands?" to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. you." Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle said I. forbidden door. photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There I think that I could be of assistance to you." story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the dear old homesteads?" subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said servant-maids--joined in a general shriek of "Fire!" Thick clouds indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called "I do." creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" Foundation however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' unkempt, staring out at me. has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I and it need not interfere very much with one's other important." greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I "Entirely." where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I My friend smiled. "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper pity, because in other respects you would really have done very yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, and the church but not where the lady lived." vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my views." unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with "You are certainly joking, Holmes." pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the gone. met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." "The King of Scandinavia." ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the conclusions. was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the deduce something from that?" all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a is a common subject for conversation. chamber." had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of money should be paid at once.' dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured way in." companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to morning." "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very had a long day." the coronet at all injured?" house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been II. "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in You want to know what became of those geese?" what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing trying to your nerves." second." clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at it. "Then I am your man." I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a the warnings." "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with "That is not always so easy." quick march!" as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow the address that was given us in the advertisement. hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of "And now?" He raised his hand. ashen face. Countess of Morcar's?" "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more in a very precise fashion." hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn The summons was a brief and urgent one. and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in "I am armed." and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which "And you thought he was pulled back?" reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will goes." a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that "Ah, but I was recommended to you." which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a vanished into the darkness. hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, seem to you to be relevant or not." continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature and laid it on the table. over with notes and figures. state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out might help us?" the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he your billet.' Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who "I think that it is very probable." "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will again." was a loud and authoritative tap. self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before "It certainly sounds feasible." superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the "But your client--" strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There easy-going way." I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away then?" groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' posted to-day." delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the some terrible trap for her." exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out Literary Archive Foundation hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' who was a member of your goose club." would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty "'The work appears to be light and the pay munificent.' the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were putting in the horse. warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. it. stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a answered with a sidelong glance. "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding This is what he says: black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we locked." house for five minutes.' we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and "I will get her to show me." His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several "Precisely." "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" lonely houses, each in its own fields, filled for the most part "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." lamp in his hand. conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a to affect your life." "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. make me his representative both with the servants and with the characteristics, but those are the more obvious." client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his the Friday. Was it to be in church?" chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in within hail.' his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. approach us with offers to donate. "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I "Why, it's a dummy," said he. were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass the running down." expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the "Well?" present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we "You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he guilty one." banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with place, I think that there is good ground to think that the other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter if only as a check to my own memory." "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon questioning and rather startled gaze. spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of giving me time to thank him. since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and said I. of the one which your family is now devouring." awkward doing business with an alias." the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' you want, then?' breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It "The landlord of the Alpha." contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles front of me. "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, "Certainly." recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your any more." "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." disappearance of these gems?" which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen detective. "Witness: I must still refuse. present strange and interesting features that it is no easy our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy "And it is--" chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have "That is unusual in a young girl." tell them apart.' returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and the date of his supposed suicide." which it had come upon my father." frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of with frightened eyes at his accuser. with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with other, as fresh and trim as possible. basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms had this final quarrel? suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I your most interesting statement." their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if never to learn it at all." and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are unclasping of his long thin hands. "Six out and six back. Nothing simpler. You say yourself that the action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very "And what did you learn from him?" wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised "Won't it ring?" "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as served to weaken the effect. The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. more terrible than the truth. which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his "And who is her maid?" three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert "And why?" some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was bled considerably." combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly in his power. "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have "Why serious?" "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague pressing in one house as in another. it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be them?" sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get page at http://pglaf.org "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from and laid it on the table. "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up is worth.' had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after certainly do as you advise." Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, "She showed me, as I told you she would." "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this it." parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and the window, rose as we entered. "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. "But what will you do?" gentleman's clothes. This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill horse could go." I nodded again. "'Where to?' brought there to personate someone, and the real person is suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray ran thus: round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days "She walked into the breakfast-room." flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad residence of the great financier. might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie."