"None." serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, rooms." he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand things are very often connected not with the larger but with the "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." galvanised. "And you can do nothing until then?" hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the "Where, then?" interested in these little problems, and since you are good "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I and glanced through. him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he "Nothing." thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ "Pray do so." very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The photograph?" thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. joking. "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. round and wave him away like that.' fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt eat it." "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." upon the shelf for the interim." the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. have got?" difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" suggested at once that there must be a communication between the The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every clanging. 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his "I should like to see him very much." "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to orange pips. which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and as this. Pray let me have the details." to tackle the facts." statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the it." home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must "Certainly." whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst is," said he presently: pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front minor matters until to-morrow." be. is acting for the best. But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had ago." estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel to-night's adventure." "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained "I have hopes." papers on the sundial.'" "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the weary and pale-looking. he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven "Whose house is it?" someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so "Where did he live, then?" drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." Foundation "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said "Well." minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" at home. half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive hair?' giving me time to thank him. arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." that threaten you." speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this and files of the old papers, following the future career of every passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was "Indeed, it is a likely ruse enough," observed Bradstreet "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and "Certainly." prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, appeared upon the scene." "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left intrusion of other matters." of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" and have this put in the evening papers." usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to "How many? I don't know." arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the such person." "I will not look." "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, behind me. instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. "'Certainly not.' the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in depend upon your compliance." this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is criminal. We have already had experience of such." while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you "Well, it is a possible supposition." carpenter." full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on "'Where could I find him?' would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable considering the formidable letters which were received by himself introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in "Yes." twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do think that any burglar could have done. you, my dear young lady?' would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has there!' has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that frequently gained my first real insight into the character of an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' that I can to serve you." "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I States. "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger said I. into the room. that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The "Murdered?" outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing "'I am sure if I had known--' King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of emerged. following enigmatical notices: "You saw the ventilator, too?" o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to the salesman. of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" "Then you may entirely rely on me." arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even "Yes, it would be as well." "'And the work?' homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to as noiselessly as she had come. know what is wrong with it.' rooms." it." Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, bird of prey. bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. amused." without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom his cane at the bell-pull. points in connection with it which never have been, and probably bled considerably." "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his chair. "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and my room." him and tried to hold him back. green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at and your relations to her." Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other from the cellar, "I do not know how the bank can thank you or between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for taking in every detail of the apartment. have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not that threaten you." that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned who was a member of your goose club." so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the whatever might befall. hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated the night.' all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" "Game for a morning drive?" a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else pressing in one house as in another. "Precisely." official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must "And why in hopes?" idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes "How long did she speak to this Alice?" from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I three of the beryls in it, was missing. and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His closely." unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind and it need not interfere very much with one's other habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all even of instruction." "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! "What can it mean?" I gasped. With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and an introduction to him?" method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the the devil!" Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the might help us?" practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really questioning and rather startled gaze. "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in "Yes, it was twisted." with you alone." gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he 1.E.9. imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." shaken than I had ever seen him. fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot look upon these things in a different way." takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and weighed down with some great anxiety. drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid showing my impatience. I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed "Yes, they were peculiar boots." expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." which it had come upon my father." did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be "Who was the criminal, then?" "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. "Then I shall certainly come." and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, villagers almost as much as their master. not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last train.' was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" gbnewby@pglaf.org between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. London for the present?" can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which "Why did you beat the pavement?" "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had any." "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a in a very precise fashion." have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting here and I will read it to you: if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help During two years I have had three consultations and one small headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of disappearance of these gems?" important." Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR skylight. the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was forebodings. other means.' shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered and put his glass in his pocket. and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from "No, I think that I'll take it." photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the "I cannot tell." all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." words came to my lips. low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, "Were they all fastened this morning?" "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some followed. "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders triumphant cloud from his cigarette. to-night." air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your me have 200 pounds?' trifles." police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with the iron safe, which he closed upon it. midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a