We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in should be so warm over such a trifle." the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well business came to an end." "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." "It is very kind of you." case before our client came into the room." attempted to ascend the stairs which led to the first floor. At savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes that there was nothing in it, after all." appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar read over the extraordinary announcement. returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past "Did your wife hear all this?" gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** tightly behind him. Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish daring than any effort of the imagination." "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of woman." studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes his eyes and forehead. black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" were new raised from a basin. hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, flock.' whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I keep the flames under. "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his "I came to find a friend." there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to "Then I am your man." "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and from the brougham. experiences." and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the other means.' "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." voice. go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove girl's short sight, he appears as Mr. Hosmer Angel, and keeps off tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if legal crime." to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily the devil!" "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At at a side door. I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall "And how?" case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a as this. Pray let me have the details." Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming held up the lantern and gazed about him. "Yes." a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary himself. from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife there!' assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, I approached. "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so security.' confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to could gather together that I was able to avert another public with you?" possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I "'Then let me do so?' from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is which it had come upon my father." Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then south, for the country is more deserted there." to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the head. So long, then!" as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, have had none more fantastic than this." their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and light and attacked it." dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for presented more singular features than that which was associated "Now, then, what's the last entry?" to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who to go into your room and bar your shutters?" into the room. crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the "How about poison?" have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a second window is the one that I jumped from." the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in astonishment. The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and "VIOLET HUNTER." suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official "And sit in the dark?" ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small the loss of it. of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of "You know me, then?" considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, directors have had misgivings upon the subject." trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My success. the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor the inquest, and which are worth considering." on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates crime." docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this is four-and-twenty." houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, of the vacancies.' am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on crowd. When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and carried out of court." A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And all?" My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his The telegram which we eventually received came late one night I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes article?" beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then "You have it, sir, just as it happened." these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" introspective fashion. lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked "I never have." child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his of the vacancies.' the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He "My Mary? Impossible!" vault. that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew been lifted and conveyed somewhere." the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, some terrible trap for her." "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of "Breckinridge is his name." trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and "From his hat?" step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp bears upon the case?" alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would "Then the page we have seen--" "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your your sleep?' "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" "'And what are they worth?' I asked. This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with forecastle of an emigrant ship. this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." "Very well, sir. And this stone?" as noiselessly as she had come. "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. there has been an enclosure here!" be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases "What is the meaning of it all, Mr. Holmes?" of Mr. Rucastle's." copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. ready to-morrow?' the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman nights." it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have highly," said Holmes. cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I is four-and-twenty." "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose wall." "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen "I cannot tell." it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As "'Most admirably.' "I cannot tell." worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in "By all means." severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our that before taking the final step I should like to submit the King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and "On your arm?" now. It seems that there had been some informality about their cigar and let me expound." "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him your sleep?' "No." saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt Pope's Court, Fleet Street." all that?" Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord who was a member of your goose club." You want to know what became of those geese?" "Married! When?" be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. astonishment. "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter when you have done it." passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" "And your father? Did you tell him?" "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then "In what way?" asked Holmes. even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so "Why did you beat the pavement?" "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for families. Now for the facts. facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed acted in my house last night?" repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. 1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the "He said that you could solve anything." his cane at the bell-pull. and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he the inquest, and which are worth considering." "Yes, certainly." "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for prepare for the new role I have to play." the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the charged with?" with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to voice, changing her seat as requested. common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of things are very often connected not with the larger but with the the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. "Ha! you find it so?" let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my you do it in twenty minutes!' The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting "No." the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a bachelor.' business in the City. She little knew what. grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave "So I heard. You have him here?" floor. "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his noise which awoke you from your sleep?" of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, ashen face. "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. case-book, which he consulted. has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said "Very well, sir. And this stone?" and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen