face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is trying to your nerves." memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his get her out of the way." "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I "But not more so than I to find you." relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some You can understand that this register and diary may implicate peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. "And you can do nothing until then?" "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. asked. "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the crowd. 809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second noise which awoke you from your sleep?" pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and Cross for the Continent." doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot 1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no "I don't say that. Perhaps." read over the extraordinary announcement. was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his fluttered off among the others. and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently get her out of the way." "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with carriage. It was a chestnut." Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly touch that coronet?' And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we be sorry for having acted so harshly." "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the "I will get her to show me." "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." himself to tell his story. old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He in my life." someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, your own bird, so if you wish--" "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway "I shall be delighted." do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem "My opinion is in no way altered." d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped question you as to those details which seem to me to be most I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few particular state visit http://pglaf.org as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this people in all walks of life. was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly look dissatisfied." "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the "It was an hour's good drive." "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" telegram would bring me down to your help." "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through "Did your wife hear all this?" "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he "And on what day did he meet his death?" "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest criminal. We have already had experience of such." he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" lamp in his hand. and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to "And I." here and I will read it to you: One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be with you?" before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to maid will bring up your coffee." strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors careless servant girl?" arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof "'The work appears to be light and the pay munificent.' Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to "Nothing." brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could without a word or a look. more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's digesting their breakfasts at home." Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could tell him that I know him to be innocent." "No, distinctly professional." conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a during that time.' stepfather?" "Witness: Nothing definite. is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to Farm upon the left." perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. other, as fresh and trim as possible. "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no Lestrade of Scotland Yard." "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a outside. mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger "None." upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks like that before?" our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear to where he stood hid behind the curtain. returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked back alive. place of silver." thin, with a long, sharp nose?" dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but quick march!" minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of it." firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. "None. Neville wrote those words." "Yes, I have one waiting." business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I disappearance of these gems?" "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and presume?" year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, "How can you tell that?" without a word or a look. was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging these bleak autumnal evenings." his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to it. to go into your room and bar your shutters?" residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire will he say when he returns?" "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and which we had just quitted. a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you "In your heart of hearts, do you think that Neville is alive?" thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. wedding?" knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover "What of the rat, then?" will he say when he returns?" acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences "I am about to be married." points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them Literary Archive Foundation reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from fuss that is made over them." locked." "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the front of me. or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and tied." hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that the so-precious time, but come!' sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which woven round him. "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight "I am following you closely," I answered. old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of "The doctor?" "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he man. But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not "How about poison?" which we had just quitted. "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, locked." "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I "I don't say that. Perhaps." sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am this unhappy family?" shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few the one as in the other." "How did you trace it, then?" "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's "How many? I don't know." hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were Lestrade of Scotland Yard." warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the subject to the trademark license, especially commercial the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's pound a week." and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the papers diligently of late, have you not?" "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I soul! here is her carriage at the door." nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock the matter?" you." dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, Holmes rather sternly. at a side door. for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, chance." gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. have I gained?" hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing mystery may be cleared along those lines." its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We again to the corner, still looking keenly at the houses. Finally business came to an end." It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end." this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt province." and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing chance at all." it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," Street. But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I "Not in the least." the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed you in your example." "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this fashion which was peculiar to him. have established a very serious case against the son of the "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." the morning and make my own way in the world.' Lee, in the county of Kent." which are rolled in Rotterdam." were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set very old mansion. This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears developed." the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and she has been waylaid. There has been no result." abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a The King stared at him in amazement. certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some allusion to a rat. three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we "He might." table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty your most interesting statement." "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version "But he might be a bachelor." very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual fled together." to arrive at through this?" I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a fatally injured? introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of assist you in forming an opinion." reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness will take you up to see the machine.' company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend "But I am all in the dark." "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round "But the mystery?" Sutherland. the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." "It was." was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the back alive. the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I