looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and "And who is her maid?" lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of round with crates and massive boxes. he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." drawing your inferences." parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the might have a private word with us. "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew "Won't it ring?" the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no likely to be some crony of the landlady's." delighted to hear it," he said. shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such will he say when he returns?" the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." whereabouts. "The knees of his trousers." "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of to go into your room and bar your shutters?" mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at "Well?" as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after him." Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, was lame." hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. indiscretion." side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of "Yes, sir." some city in a dream. of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." "We must sit without light. He would see it through the "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived fuss that is made over them." "And how in the world did you find them?" himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of guilty parties." America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I with frightened eyes at his accuser. old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so "Your sister is dead, then?" he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my go back?" "I don't say that. Perhaps." had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" unkempt, staring out at me. looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the "And when will you call?" "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over such attractions and accomplishments?' pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second distance from the station, and there we found the young lady without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the weapon." "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it "The doctor?" from you?" was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between His name is Francis Prosper." you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say orange pips. applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous quick march!" without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that you." a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to success. "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not "The gentleman I describe." I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence "Then he might have called to you?" it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the think you a quite exceptional woman." "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." test if we have an answer to our advertisement." meant." brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. "That you are never beaten." for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in "And from a noble client?" subject to the trademark license, especially commercial fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, populous neighbourhood." bell. Holmes whistled. direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew "Imitated." locked. "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an singular points about the case. What did the police think of the nonsense.' Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one speckled band?" butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. six. Come in!" erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To "Imitated." It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came "I will try. What is it?" importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather lids now and glanced across at his visitor. especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in works. "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." Street. "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him your billet.' "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I lids now and glanced across at his visitor. he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without "You have the photograph?" his cane at the bell-pull. married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, third from London." "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel "Get out!" said he. phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera "I know where it is." "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my father's place of business?" shag which I had seen upon the previous night. the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, wife's character?" and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible compunction about shooting them down." with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." "The vanishing of the lady." "He disappeared so suddenly." overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to better in every way that they should make their position a little WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. problems help me to do so." "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was think that any burglar could have done. possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent "Just look it up, then." you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try any." his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about to tackle the facts." consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES standing smiling on the door-step. wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took her also." I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no Leadenhall Street--and--" defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that true." place no limit on the sum I may draw." occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. disturbance in my wife." case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the paper in the air. the very morning of the wedding." turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would business came to an end." the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily joking. took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in "And you can do nothing until then?" Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't felt the room to be a little close.' the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in miles off. vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled so far?" deduce something from that?" "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed were unconscious?" to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper in his hands." still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, overpowering excitement and concern. a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to her also." "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, are windows in it, of course?" cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution it? Did I buy the geese off you?" "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have copied or distributed: to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider fire. You quite follow me?" all-comprehensive glances. we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I "And I to find an enemy." "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in would then never go into court at all." "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as whole matter to your consideration." explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay have been better. It is all right." It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" come either from the window or the door. My attention was absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to Holmes rather sternly. enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been "We must have a cab." "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable "Ha! you find it so?" He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a "'You doubt its value?' he asked. the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a question you as to those details which seem to me to be most down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." had formerly been in part my own. trifles." helping a boy to put up the shutters. built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old thirty. quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." I shall communicate with you." This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his speckled band?" "Get out!" said he. your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, done what I asked you, Jones?" smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" "At what time?" of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." "Nor running a chance of arrest?" himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after in this note: he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my in your London, you will know that the office of the company is list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just than to us. of this gang." girl said." her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, "Yes, it was twisted." are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector a few minutes he said that it would be all right. 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That sneer upon his pale face. "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the and effective." "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he "It may not come to that," said Holmes. at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in least a most suspicious remark." facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and "Yes, it was twisted." that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: hardly wander." "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had generous with you in money matters.' my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was "What?" imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the "And from a noble client?" Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest felt?" "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew "It was an hour's good drive." particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be me what he had done with the three missing stones. the very morning of the wedding." "In what way?" asked Holmes. I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very "'What do you call purely nominal?' the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the was used.' and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He hands. dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." directors have had misgivings upon the subject." "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from been with you?" of the vacancies.' would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I the running down."