same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the "'You doubt its value?' he asked. Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the experiences." the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had neither fascinating nor artistic." went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should there is a decided draught." the coronet in his hand?" "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The indiscretion." trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had was once confined in the cab my mission was practically "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled "Your French gold?" himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, not fit the lock." from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his knowledge of the world." which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. instituted." Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, photograph?" I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on redistribution. twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His "The rest you will leave in our hands." lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt way in." leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." "Yes, sir." blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," highly," said Holmes. this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst will he say when he returns?" then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and "Who was the criminal, then?" "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or again to the corner, still looking keenly at the houses. Finally infinite languor in his face. "Was your sister dressed?" sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in "Yes, the wine-cellar." "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is "I don't say that. Perhaps." said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." too. knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by "Where did he live, then?" quickly through a disagreeable task. the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is past. listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he said he at last. he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for Foundation it means?" "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and really the only notable feature about the thing." when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, "My photograph." to that open window." took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all Stoke Moran." gone before you can get him to hospital." convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some you want, then?' although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon in my life." Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which advice." "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. infinite languor in his face. "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass thirty. impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still taking in every detail of the apartment. the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long feature." remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove "What I expected to see." will he say when he returns?" "What then?" possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I ceremony." the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." bore every mark of being an average commonplace British or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, "Ah!" satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. the iron safe, which he closed upon it. met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll "Where to?" before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint I leave." from you?" God! What an exposure! What can I do?" income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but "Breckinridge is his name." union?" "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I him. lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts question you as to those details which seem to me to be most that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was interests were the same as his." was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen in a friendly supper." you want, then?' photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain about. present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of God! What an exposure! What can I do?" "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public my special province." did not hear it also.' fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my I think that I could be of assistance to you." Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my could go. "Then he might have called to you?" comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. "Dirty?" I took the paper from him and read as follows: sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, "He is dead," cried several voices. logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and crackling voice. like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly chance at all." "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned anything to do with the matter?" He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had me, and I could not think that his explanation of the roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, business." "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been I approached. tear off another piece?' with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend him nearly every evening." morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at "By train from Waterloo." protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much opened a pocket-book and took out a note. "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, in one or two places in England?' of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the galvanised. prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to cheerful." following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to think that he is innocent?" "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of "It may not come to that," said Holmes. Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter bonnet, and went out." The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place where we are going." thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. of us, she gave a cry of hope which sank into a groan as she saw "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. your billet.' room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' I nodded again. where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too the coroner come to?" smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for attention." observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. "No, distinctly professional." he bowed and left the room without another word. the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the the little opening for the ventilator is." congenial hunt. perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun "And Miss Sutherland?" "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he acted in my house last night?" among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I second." wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the she used." With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had "Breckinridge is his name." "BALLARAT." "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine American. Then who could this American be, and why should he Sutherland. "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from himself. and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. "Certainly." off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked The police have openly confessed that they can at present make and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must "She will not sell." fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very his cane at the bell-pull. and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he "In what way?" asked Holmes. future lives." Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I frequently gained my first real insight into the character of was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a "It is possible." "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the forbidden door. on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as "What of the rat, then?" I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean she has been waylaid. There has been no result." "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several prepare for the new role I have to play." despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a "What have you done?" asked Holmes. "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for suddenly upon us." giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he again before evening." threw himself down with his face to the pillow. years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about careless servant girl?" I took the paper from him and read as follows: o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing "'Yes, I promise.' opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story waste of energy." "'Quite sure, dad.' is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I to a light-house. "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." some city in a dream. "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of there has been an enclosure here!" "I am following you closely," I answered. "What is it, then--a fire?" me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had views." an introduction to him?" The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it always that they were such commands as a lady might with of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about "Nothing." scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in here and I will read it to you: its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long telegram would bring me down to your help." and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had will not take me long to tell. McCarthy." I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate Where does the thing come from?' part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time said Mr. Holder. conceal it?" "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken hurried by. "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our "I don't say that. Perhaps." "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how skylight. hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you even so self-evident a thing as that." so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and "We must sit without light. He would see it through the I. dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not "10th. John Swain cleared. quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, letters?" that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the