of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." "I cannot tell." "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. it." Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade "I guessed as much." "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the should be so warm over such a trifle." across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old quite distinctive." side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." indiscretion." "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I said he at last. groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any annoyance, but no jest. "What do you make of that, Watson?" with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the "I do." "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed "I fear not." yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." too. Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: asked. signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, mysterious end." "Did he not advertise?" "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps "By train from Waterloo." long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' way: I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." new duties?' I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." "Do you go out much in society?" "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of if she died from some sudden fright." freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you "Always." like that before?" vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary mystery may be cleared along those lines." went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet me where it went to?" there was no need for father to know." "He is still with you, I presume?" 1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate "He disappeared so suddenly." possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and During two years I have had three consultations and one small even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough could not have written that. It is the German who is so shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in "I never have." with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The out of this horrible affair." when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales jewels which you have stolen?' of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of than to us. dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter returned to France?" miles off. the very morning of the wedding." "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith "What are they?" "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of Pope's Court. town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. "Then I do not see the point." the matter." unkempt, staring out at me. doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a of them has the shutters up.' until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If envelope. the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take nonsense.' "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless "I am following you closely," I answered. "Tired-looking or fresh?" other lovers by making love himself." "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared "What I expected to see." sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were then?" little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of McCarthy's innocence. and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then Gutenberg-tm License. He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on "Stoke Moran?" said he. I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is "Yes, they were peculiar boots." will be renamed. delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his "Was he the only applicant?" I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I directors have had misgivings upon the subject." original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their secret." in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would attention." and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With to some other building. - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from "It's nothing of the kind." constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I said I. very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A said he at last. "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others laugh and put his lips to my ear. see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are digesting their breakfasts at home." had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her "But to whom?" many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." lamp. "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than lips." "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." ago." "'No, I know no one in these parts.' we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more some city in a dream. "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! "You'll never persuade me to believe that." "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked have been better. It is all right." "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, ventilator." finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was voice, changing her seat as requested. he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with peculiar to him. lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but that before taking the final step I should like to submit the facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At "Tired-looking or fresh?" my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the with some details as to your case." "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the "How long did she speak to this Alice?" dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, manager. "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. Serpentine Avenue. indeed happy." "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very asked with his eyes open. "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but as though some dreadful hand were behind me clutching at the "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if "That is not always so easy." and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most "Yes." should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good up this clue while it is still hot." which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he "And Miss Sutherland?" voice, changing her seat as requested. He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the other means.' maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle "In answer to an advertisement." could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we "But his lameness?" "My opinion is in no way altered." lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. "And on what day did he meet his death?" knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow said he. seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the your Highness to the police-station?" wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a "If I can be of use." "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" existence." groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a pressing in one house as in another. The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and this Miss Turner." cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the and laid it on the table. and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. my secret was safe in his possession. some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many was once confined in the cab my mission was practically together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite "Where, then?" "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were detective. the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough month. 'You shall not have a farthing from me,' I cried, on which side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses "Yes, the wine-cellar." against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so What do you deduce from it?" 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' "You are certainly joking, Holmes." diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to again." "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the which I could not give. He asked for Alice. highroad, where all traces were lost. Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a "And leave your case unfinished?" that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning "'The work appears to be light and the pay munificent.' think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was to some other building. writer." accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the "That is it on the dressing-table." possible that we could bring him back to her? I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined money should be paid at once.' "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting upon a handsome competence. running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for that I am arrested." array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, "'And what are they worth?' I asked. "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back "Not in the least." "You did not overhear what they said?" "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small with frightened eyes at his accuser. the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." "Then I do not see the point." "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have becomes even more simple." deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?"