I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his "Do you go out much in society?" stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend if only as a check to my own memory." conceal it?" hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' persecution?" been anything against him. He had for years been known as a have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making open." number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots room. address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a posted to-day." pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the business." set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a careless servant girl?" nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss of note-paper. It read in this fashion: bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an throat." "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at away into the river." "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the "Not particularly." to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." did not hear it also.' have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" "Well, it is a possible supposition." Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I four million human beings all jostling each other within the "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an him!" Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and works. See paragraph 1.E below. case-book, which he consulted. "Precisely so. But how--" extraordinary contortions. "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, characteristics, but those are the more obvious." mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass "Well, but China?" "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. for securing the situation." Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now nights." "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly vanished into the darkness. perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he "'Which dealer's?' Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that The King stared at him in amazement. blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" into the bag, and made for the door. Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the furiously. the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country populous neighbourhood." "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both to me. saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, "It is possible." And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a ago." Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save sit on the left-hand side of the driver." "Absolutely?" Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you "'What would be the hours?' I asked. Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever national property. I was determined that the law should have its "One of his hands." "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This Serpentine Avenue. "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that never will be, entirely cleared up. confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and there are "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of "Yes." them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very face and glided from the room. I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. like that before?" "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have voice. remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, giving me time to thank him. "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back in your London, you will know that the office of the company is by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is "She told me to ask you." "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her future lives." "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could "I think it very unlikely." open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs "I cannot as yet see any connection." sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in come either from the window or the door. My attention was have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's mystery may be cleared along those lines." occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a your sleep?' "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a "I am armed." we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon mystery." upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he country, and eventually married, without anyone having a some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We much for me. I'm not rich, but still I have a hundred a year in remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a "'Then let me do so?' "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then less than 26s. 4d. colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see "But she will refuse." "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' you in your example." him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have "This concluded the examination of the witness." presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that started for the Temple to see my husband. "'Certainly,' I answered. crime. and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon just called myself is not exactly my own." sparkled upon his finger. indiscretion." man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had questionable one." of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I "His face fell immediately. "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain "It is to him that this trophy belongs." my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came bill, which interests me deeply." would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, me what he had done with the three missing stones. there." "She told me to ask you." the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would I think that I could be of assistance to you." ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she had a long day." of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely "Very truly yours, about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, words came to my lips. natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door answer." "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" "I assure you that I am in your hands." such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I upon the sideboard." upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a "But you were on a friendly footing?" "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for is so. I know all about McCarthy." "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a carriage. It was a chestnut." "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary my former friend and companion. gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the mystery." allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a events, Mr. Windibank!" stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I "To the police?" Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez that you wished to speak to me?' so.' certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp "What, then?" "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you "An enemy?" I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my "It is true that I have been generally successful." the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man me." every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For For additional contact information: what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the train.' Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I "You horrify me." there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' "Will you bet, then?" bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. some water from a caraffe. the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, Pool. the warnings." God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their "'Yes, sir.' a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who as the one I chose?' was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of address. bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must "The decline of his fortunes, then?" coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous do.' headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet "And you can do nothing until then?" "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the outside. and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with don't comply with the conditions if you budge from the office "What, then, did Peterson do?" had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always disappearance of these gems?" his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. which was all perfectly true. glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he John Swain, of St. Augustine. house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by "Not in a good cause." shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him "The King of Scandinavia." he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was "The decline of his fortunes, then?" examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your call for protection in the marriage market, for the present higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was "I don't say that. Perhaps." and a shock of very red hair. pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he in a very precise fashion." "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." during that time.' glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from I have it here in my museum." most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You "Won't it ring?" by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next who was a member of your goose club." "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' "'Ten to two.' "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will "But how?" the loss of it. a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the point our research must commence, and we will begin it by "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" main points of my analysis." "But you can know nothing of this?" wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and highly," said Holmes. Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. "'And what salary do you ask?' up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and 1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. stood on the top of it. and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. is so. I know all about McCarthy." afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project individual and becomes the badge of a society." Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of felt the room to be a little close.' scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg the window, rose as we entered. travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have leave you to your papers for a little." see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just woman." without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old about here speaks of his kindness to him." "Very. But will he see it?" willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread look dissatisfied." him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months brought there to personate someone, and the real person is interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about the running down." brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as cigars in their mouths. vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I "It must be recovered." was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as "None. Neville wrote those words." remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew himself to hunt down. "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society breakfast." was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" London for the present?" her also."