"Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no ever seen that her temper was just a little sharp. The incident "What will you say?" Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps presume?" down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so with you alone." good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent the address that was given us in the advertisement. What do you deduce from it?" miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. until night should bring an explanation. buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a Mrs. Toller serenely. "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are "About a month then." you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which "What do you make of that, Watson?" Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the forecastle of an emigrant ship. set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." "I cannot say that I have." save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. to that open window." about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the one of the states of the Union." a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with becomes even more simple." afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he as noiselessly as she had come. "Then how many are there?" green of the new foliage. find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up "'Very good.' "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it washing it down with a long draught of water. "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though the devil!" "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call be. one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at fasten all the windows?" jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his "The murder was done with it." of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have I took the paper from him and read as follows: deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, begun to whiten, even as mine has." "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for a few minutes he said that it would be all right. Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window conclusions. He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My indeed happy." in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, "Yes." Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per populous neighbourhood." directors have had misgivings upon the subject." along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared papers." "Yes, they were peculiar boots." garden below. days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of official police." the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was thought that she would have been so carried away." it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary crackling voice. walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker success. "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose against a man in the prime of life?" "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the recall any case within my experience which looked at the first the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. "'What are you doing there?' he asked. after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. about here speaks of his kindness to him." dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud "How did he come?" ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the appeal." relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned tail." LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean "But I am all in the dark." SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how "Not I." "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each "Not yet." McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even large a sum as a hundred a year, with what you earn into the and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere the side-table." there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a the Red-headed League." the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would problems help me to do so." law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman John Swain, of St. Augustine. "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It Countess of Morcar's?" week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing "No good news?" round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would been shamefully used." to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little "Not yet." of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she foot. greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to both be extremely obliged.' lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to "What is the meaning of it all, Mr. Holmes?" this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any them?" if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the started for the Temple to see my husband. interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as spare." Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would fasten all the windows?" neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. "But what will you do?" rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the rat could hardly pass through." do you make of it all?" "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not towards the blaze. stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of know what is wrong with it.' vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it "Yes, I have one waiting." very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am think, you have already met." upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made be there in time for your coming." "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with quick march!" would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." laugh and put his lips to my ear. "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler charged with?" very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still thirty. upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" "In what way?" asked Holmes. it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the for securing the situation." with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and it." "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have discontent upon his features. whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who ran thus: civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as despair." which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or "An accident, I presume?" are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the habit of advancing money.' lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the "What have you to say now?" "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated "But how?" this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of if I call to-morrow?" "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when tied." little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon what is your own theory as to what took place?" with frightened eyes at his accuser. I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to "9th. McCauley cleared. separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out "Never." "No legal papers or certificates?" to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for "I see no marks." some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that did not hear it also.' them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, "Precisely." shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in along the entire front of the house, with three long windows than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute shall not find me ungrateful." "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, you." police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our your most interesting statement." fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the been anything against him. He had for years been known as a into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. always that they were such commands as a lady might with that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as "In the cells." "What, then, did Peterson do?" The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking "I am in hopes that she does." were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking spark where all is dark to me." and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for "I would pay ten." equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his "No?" believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this The police have openly confessed that they can at present make hopeless attempt at recovering them." thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. likely to be some crony of the landlady's." "I am following you closely," I answered. "But his lameness?" the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to was a lad." not within a twentieth part of the market price." "What can you not understand?" there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. much for me. I'm not rich, but still I have a hundred a year in "May I see it?" quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, "An accident, I presume?" heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else salesman. new acquaintance to Baker Street. usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has "How did you trace it, then?" and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for "Not social, then?" take the flies, but not before." so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a returned to France?" "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently "That is also quite modern," said the lady. instituted." made his money." The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden as he remarks, very much against the son." was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a weary and pale-looking. sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must once more. narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic despair." expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to the coroner come to?" From what you have told me I think that it is possible that XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel impression behind it as though a window had gently closed returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should six. Come in!" reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were Again Holmes raved in the air. all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not "I was certainly surprised to find you there." "That sounds a little paradoxical." girl said." insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. "'Certainly not.' ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his "'Is 4 pounds a week.' "'You doubt its value?' he asked. and have this put in the evening papers." crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed closing the door. door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken "How do you know, then?" silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the as the one I chose?' All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we four million human beings all jostling each other within the "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever in my life." reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your "Well, some hundreds of times." along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son once more on the important position which you have been fortunate adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer fait accompli?" stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he