who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. remarked. boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the populous neighbourhood." work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a "The Cedars?" The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am Mary, has deserted me." "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, drove away. reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce gone. "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see everything which you would wish to know." the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, "By train from Waterloo." which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after that I may have something better before very many minutes are letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from helping a boy to put up the shutters. were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, where Mr. Fordham shows you.' "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled bare slabs of marble. to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me taking in every detail of the apartment. those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, one of them." "Yes, only one." "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you been shamefully used." the window, rose as we entered. "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the "Her father is very rich?" wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words business came to an end." side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then invisible to me," I remarked. Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as "I promise," said Holmes. "Where is it, then?" Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." man. trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine the room while you explain this matter?" wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I "No." "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and "You did not overhear what they said?" which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must "But what harm can there be in that?" impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case to tackle the facts." "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to "'And what salary do you ask?' "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' pictures, libraries, or plate. answer." known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted than to us. girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE "Will you bet, then?" fuss that is made over them." had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, "It goes to the housekeeper's room." anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning fat-encircled eyes. "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by "'Very good.' "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very have I gained?" gentleman's clothes. station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before would be as well for you to have your pistol ready." for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took the bottom.' her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. will he say when he returns?" learned something! Where are the gems?" letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save married her." practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really very peculiar words of the dying woman?" gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of pressing in one house as in another. the matter?" Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own it." were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. been lifted and conveyed somewhere." hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately one which it was hard to resist. "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I "I cannot imagine." presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent the night.' concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the "Stolen." have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that flock.' father's young wife. than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some events than those which have happened in my own family." My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near lost nothing by them." to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right "On your arm?" "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon to-night?' "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I arrangements." submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in "Thank you. Pray proceed." should be taken.' round and wave him away like that.' the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to emerged. he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the jewels which you have stolen?' "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through and inquire as to the address." and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us and no precautions can guard against." bird I ate is country bred." the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is man. I know him from the photograph." with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a gives a meaning to it." think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving observed. "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week "Of what day?" answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You discontent upon his features. of campaign. panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." electronic works William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter everything which you would wish to know." thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the "Did you become engaged then?" me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual there." unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into without success. At last the little money which I had saved began or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who 11:15.' met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between you found me to-night--and running through the front room she could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room relation between them, and what the object of his repeated "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and "I am armed." whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking "I should be immensely obliged to you." and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I good for you to do.' the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't "'No, I know no one in these parts.' as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking even so self-evident a thing as that." "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong acted in my house last night?" "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes straightened it out again. as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment "Perhaps we may make them less so." "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I October 9, 1890. surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. "I answered that I had not. "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted pictures, libraries, or plate. many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of you do it in twenty minutes!' were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry "Where did he live, then?" the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, you want, then?' gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry away into the river." no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the "I have hopes." "Whose house is it?" "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see closely." "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the "What?" "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door said he at last. Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which are, and they are waiting for us." mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you sentimental considerations in the background which would induce my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was photograph?" to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's the date of his supposed suicide." "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste "What then?" is a common subject for conversation. police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us the bed, and you in that chair." dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. in his power. second window is the one that I jumped from." "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very you." you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. "You have compromised yourself seriously." father's place of business?" Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, "'Yes.' still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear and inquire as to the address." Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I recall any case within my experience which looked at the first and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and Mrs. Toller serenely. benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I go from here to the Strand." all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last client, rising. battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his Project Gutenberg-tm works. and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered. "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had "How long did she speak to this Alice?" "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate completely overtopped every other consideration that we both thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out within hail.' "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with that I can to serve you." The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be politicians who had been sent down from the North. a suggestive one." Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of have accepted such a situation. "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm so far?" set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very "'Ten to two.' branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' "You have the photograph?" "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand