DISSOLVED. yourselves in at night?" confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend room?" discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is foot. by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they the window, rose as we entered. swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the "It is solved." found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of "Because he was handy and would come cheap." known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both "And Miss Sutherland?" this unhappy family?" would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand crowd. first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" such attractions and accomplishments?' 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate "What shall I do?" mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, not personally threatened." right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' remarked. of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, "Yes." horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water "I shall be delighted." "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might "What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when have not had my rubber." "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said do.' penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded presume?" dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his in one or two places in England?' "'How far from the body?' wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real undoubtedly my uncle's." planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began tension within him. son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel likely to be some crony of the landlady's." the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was sake, don't!" long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend "Can I be of assistance?" the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, that the gas is not laid on in his house?" own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have conclusions. through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. "Yes, they were peculiar boots." Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of "Did you become engaged then?" coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a place no limit on the sum I may draw." Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of "Yes." "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly "This concluded the examination of the witness." "I do." set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the Chief Executive and Director existence." dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded "Come in!" said Holmes. "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must the side-table." "'Quite sure, dad.' single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had Henry Baker is a member." anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle bears upon the case?" security.' from you?" "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept "In what way?" asked Holmes. Cross for the Continent." "That is also quite modern," said the lady. breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." room?" after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be fluttered off among the others. that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must one or two very singular points about this room. For example, system of imprisonment?" some place of shelter and let the county police know what has say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" ourselves in the office." best detective that ever lived. even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as companion. "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would showing my impatience. beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers someone who had been in Australia." Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so with the outside air!" Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." likely to be some crony of the landlady's." purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an is a common subject for conversation. almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or James Windibank. Voilà tout!" business in the City. She little knew what. anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching and files of the old papers, following the future career of every the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at "You have carte blanche." Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. think, you have already met." "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to ventilator." of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his gentleman's clothes. lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some "Not him." "Well?" of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as before, for it was considerably after midnight. "What will you say?" have I gained?" "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive "Imitated." sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility head. So long, then!" should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied "You think that he is dead?" official police." "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of with you?" "Holmes, the busybody!" friend's singular character. That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, the child." so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, gone. branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, case-book, which he consulted. "ARAT," I read. not come at once?" been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the retorted upon me, and I on you." rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are telegram would bring me down to your help." salesman. rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the him to go away.' "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" woman who has had her own way to make in the world. this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little "What! You do not mean bodies?" clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather of the vacancies.' process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could silent! Oh, he will be silent!' "I guessed as much." problems help me to do so." my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at noting anything else of interest. "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. "Oh, yes, easily." public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, "Did he not advertise?" "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural "'Quite sure, dad.' and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such forebodings. grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting "I have a cab outside." "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the morning." middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the believe that I should never have any practice at all. man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such hour." destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon singular points about the case. What did the police think of the hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then particular state visit http://pglaf.org man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': awkward doing business with an alias." rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so "Then I do not see the point." interests were the same as his." weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, "In answer to an advertisement." mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your "In your heart of hearts, do you think that Neville is alive?" "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of of his shoulders. see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are him to go away.' down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged "I cannot say that I have." comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He dates and names. "Then I am your man." sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to Project Gutenberg-tm works. begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of go--none." you." coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton she has been waylaid. There has been no result." Serpentine Avenue. with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at "Texas, I think." were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, such attractions and accomplishments?' the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though Eyford at 11:15.' thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love six. Come in!" "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as "'Quite sure, dad.' "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a "Nothing?" "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father system of imprisonment?" The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully this poor creature." "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to exactly what you advise." this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are was it brought him the coronet? "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. "I would give my fortune to have them back." arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven "I cannot tell." always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little "And sit in the dark?" upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It The King stared at him in amazement. "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was "Which surely he restored to their owner?" "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have success. "Then what has happened to him?" and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, "My dear Holmes!" unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the "In the cells." round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to "That is not always so easy." purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, advice." impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every "I see many objections to any such theory." Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must of your young ladies.' hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit "But not more so than I to find you." "'I have already given you my word.' "Dirty?" scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. Clair, of Lee." the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! you have a quick eye for colour. Never trust to general "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in "Pray be precise as to details," said he. professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police once more. in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" "Yes." outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the "Nothing." "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom coffee, for I observe that you are shivering." money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed "What of the rat, then?" quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner him. cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger key turn in the lock." the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in have had none more fantastic than this." "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I the so-precious time, but come!' was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business little woman to-night when she meets me at the door."