all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, said he, "my real name is James Ryder." "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an his face. forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it "'You cannot say what it was?' "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not "I will try. What is it?" I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. tail." "So I am. Very much so." shoulder. Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you "Nothing." Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. "'About the same.' advice." "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she your only hope of safety." two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with "But how did you gain them?" looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. speckled band?" Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before whole matter to your consideration." "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution "But how will you look?" more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is reach." rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon became a certainty. "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in "I would give my fortune to have them back." through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the when you have done it." man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. "It is possible." should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the "How often?" propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the lost nothing by them." "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So information in his hands the value of which he did not himself himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, "None." it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take conclusions. request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other points to suicide?" both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point "An enemy?" Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at cup of tea. at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, "It is a murder, then?" "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his detective. across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria your only hope of safety." "They are typewritten," I remarked. parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which Surrey." what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly "One of his hands." help us in this matter." "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for "Very murderous indeed." him to go away.' slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see "Certainly." chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in tapping his fingers upon the table. "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were the child." learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had During two years I have had three consultations and one small "You are hungry," I remarked. "The doctor?" a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen Countess of Morcar's?" one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well towards the blaze. she to prove their authenticity?" to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a some city in a dream. when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the you came in." "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, before the coroner and the police-court." "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a soul! here is her carriage at the door." unkempt, staring out at me. "Never." and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be Street. their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of in my life." appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should "About a month then." to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it "Where, indeed?" fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I "'Is 4 pounds a week.' beg that you will break it off." half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for your bag." less than 26s. 4d. "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away "But his lameness?" got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which could not have written that. It is the German who is so ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an felt the room to be a little close.' Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in "It is possible." fatally injured? that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me is worth.' do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, the inner apartment." other lovers by making love himself." "But what harm can there be in that?" case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. "A greater distance to travel." conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of woven round him. walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and posted to-day." a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into think, you have already met." very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all "At what time?" seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three "Where did he live, then?" ago." coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's "No, I think that I'll take it." comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest affection." Dr. Gregory B. Newby "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge "Why? What do you mean?" you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was "Witness: I must still refuse. particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety "Why serious?" the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. some place of shelter and let the county police know what has such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her flock.' time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while "Was the window open?" behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to weary and pale-looking. view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, "What is it?" cigars in their mouths. signal between you and your father? France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was at my own good fortune. face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first tell them apart.' "This photograph!" preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. that, and I came down." "What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for persecution?" these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly "'I am sure that I do not know.' then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional "But his lameness?" Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. at my remark. cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a "Precisely so. But how--" "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out his wife has ceased to love him." still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us frequently gained my first real insight into the character of strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his servant-maids--joined in a general shriek of "Fire!" Thick clouds reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' there has been an enclosure here!" Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." call for protection in the marriage market, for the present card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I "How about poison?" back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that "My own seal." met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which their singular warning or token before them when starting upon something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was "That was it, sir." of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose said he. and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so mystery." unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have "Yes." to arrive at through this?" to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or the south-west, I see." is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door what do you think they found in the pockets?" one or two very singular points about this room. For example, any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project "If I can be of use." convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than chamber." brought there to personate someone, and the real person is the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in unapproachable from that side. Now, would you have the kindness remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. "That's no good." "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened During two years I have had three consultations and one small Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of respectable self." the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging "'I shall certainly be there.' shall use the carriage to-night." us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. he died? had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of at once, for I have only half an hour." the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the together. would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I sofa. This way, please!" "Oh, yes, easily." "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," brandy and water within his reach. you do it in twenty minutes!' his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the "And your mother is alive?" "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. singular points about the case. What did the police think of the permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached "I am all attention, madam." business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an "Very truly yours, While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly go back?" points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will house for five minutes.' "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see she used." "I am in hopes that she does." dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her not as remarkable as your advertisement." pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round detective. has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the "Of Friday, June 19th." giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. with you alone." "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two past. might have a private word with us. "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, "No, I think that I'll take it." a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped "One horse?" interjected Holmes. effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, once more for Briony Lodge. "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily "Of what?" first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water "Yes." "And did you observe any change in her then?" "Murdered?" "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant "And did you observe any change in her then?" "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan wall." makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very girl's short sight, he appears as Mr. Hosmer Angel, and keeps off hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that examination of the premises, but without finding anything which sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I outbreak?" address. practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." together. where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has introspective fashion. "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of to some other building. lamp.