daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed "But how could you guess what the motive was?" "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. "'No, I know no one in these parts.' those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I the room while you explain this matter?" should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could any more." tear off another piece?' words came to my lips. entirely lost his self-respect." two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at or in danger--" "I do." were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the "And from a noble client?" "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I "'I shall certainly be there.' you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you the window, rose as we entered. seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of you found me to-night--and running through the front room she "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may "But how could you guess what the motive was?" through." wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm "But how could you guess what the motive was?" "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. "Look there!" said he. the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," sake, don't!" States. eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the "And Miss Sutherland?" and the colonel ushered me in. have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the This is what he says: the bed, and you in that chair." "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my "But how will you look?" washing it down with a long draught of water. was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left ventilator." gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is "'Never,' said I. one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but "My own seal." he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the "I beg pardon." "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of arrangements." "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten business." unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My looking up at the numbers of the houses." "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular you in yours." the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. "But what will you do?" the general public were present, then?" the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he don't comply with the conditions if you budge from the office confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of 1.F. "Dr. Becher's." contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he "No." the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to "No, finished." sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, works. See paragraph 1.E below. eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip arms and began to sob in a high treble key. "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so "Ha! you find it so?" "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you prison!" for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the "And how did he make his money?" Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was "Two days later this same performance was gone through under am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back cost them two and thirty pounds." sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which "'Hampshire. Charming rural place. The Copper Beeches, five miles "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a mysterious end." hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence "I will try. What is it?" been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not DISSOLVED. process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I his knees, staring into the fire. "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I article?" us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from noise which awoke you from your sleep?" well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't "But you can know nothing of this?" me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so "She will not sell." monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, returning from some small jollification and was making his way was lame." edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his hair?' and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." a monotonous occupation." "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I chill to my heart. always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds caressing and soothing his manner was--'and what has frightened some water from a caraffe. brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a someone who had been in Australia." words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a morning." wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and invisible to me," I remarked. as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can "Well, some hundreds of times." condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He depend upon your compliance." bird of prey. papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold "'Yes, it was gone.' such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, clanging. morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since despaired of." held up the lantern and gazed about him. "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which "And the cigar-holder?" way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for and that he would see to anything that turned up. of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an "I will, Miss Turner." "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' within hail.' some place of shelter and let the county police know what has "Well, it is a possible supposition." idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he Leave Paddington by the 11:15." the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project if I call to-morrow?" "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, "It's nothing of the kind." "But his lameness?" "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such that there was nothing in it, after all." "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country "I see many objections to any such theory." in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have "My Mary? Impossible!" "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his as though some dreadful hand were behind me clutching at the detained." "Have you it here?" the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." "If I can be of use." shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from handed it to him. received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in "Game for a morning drive?" "You heard nothing yourself last night?" taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my stood on the top of it. ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in Young McCarthy must be got off, however." set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as "My photograph." returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm enter into my head. unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a McCarthy." business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative "Just look it up, then." away in different directions, and I went off to make my own have had none more fantastic than this." established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused "We were both in the photograph." an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some leaning back in his chair. accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your forbidden door. mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if gone. house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" speckled band?" in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the "Of Friday, June 19th." hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square helping a boy to put up the shutters. "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client dramatic, in fact." play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, hereditary King of Bohemia." he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of it right.' "You are all wrong." through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit "I came to find a friend." '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such without a word or a look. said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us works. See paragraph 1.E below. I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never in the dead of the night?' I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over "It is possible." characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set forbidden door. great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from were new raised from a basin. shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. and glanced through. making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions formed some opinion?" and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again above the wrist, where the typewritist presses against the table, which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon man. "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly Mary, has deserted me." submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say that the gas is not laid on in his house?" should be taken.' when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and The summons was a brief and urgent one. "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? photograph?" common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The "But he might be a bachelor." or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have "And who is her maid?" two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began "Which surely he restored to their owner?" known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that fattened it expressly for you.' some city in a dream. along the entire front of the house, with three long windows not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the a monotonous occupation." day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. 1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice "Murdered?" "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, never will be, entirely cleared up. however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this other, as fresh and trim as possible. his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own will not take me long to tell. with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. weary and pale-looking. "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now "I am sure." Have you good authority for what you say?" to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its "Really! You surprise me." the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from forehead. be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss how narrow had been my escape. followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we "But what harm can there be in that?" signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." second window is the one that I jumped from." by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the "'I am sure that I do not know.' at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He jewels which you have stolen?' labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious other lovers by making love himself." inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, "I am to be neutral?" it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I the corner. "I have had nothing else to do." so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is suddenly upon us." or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter