gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." look upon these things in a different way." the address that was given us in the advertisement. always that they were such commands as a lady might with one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I it." "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, round and wave him away like that.' some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" about here speaks of his kindness to him." never came back." Sutherland. "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior thin legs towards the fire. wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. at a side door. himself to hunt down. side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, of fine shops and stately business premises that they really surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there you in your example." so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily to Leatherhead. "I should be immensely obliged to you." us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy who was a member of your goose club." "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to do." latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he details should find their way into the papers. Inspector you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, "And what did you learn from him?" About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. nice household for a young lady." size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have careless servant girl?" "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your "No?" mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY "Where did you address your letters, then?" wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of of them has the shutters up.' me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it Again Holmes raved in the air. explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the not fit the lock." about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just which was all perfectly true. it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have chambers. "How did you trace it, then?" this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was over part of the map. "What do you read?" where Mr. Fordham shows you.' that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke "It's nothing of the kind." however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he the inner apartment." and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to entirely devoid of interest." before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from it." spare." made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps said he, "my real name is James Ryder." possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it forehead. he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a call for it in person on Monday morning.' perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may My friend smiled. swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to "My Mary? Impossible!" strange features which were associated with the two crimes which shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, "But his left-handedness." client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' digesting their breakfasts at home." sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too "My Mary? Impossible!" hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a "I saw her in conversation with her maid." temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: night.' said he. unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter "I think that it is very probable." here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before "Did you become engaged then?" sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much I approached. I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. situation." upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came "No." low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had comes from the middle window." IS "'Tell me all about it,' said I. round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the to a more successful conclusion." which our visitor detailed to us. about here speaks of his kindness to him." Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see in him." danger is over." standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had unapproachable from that side. Now, would you have the kindness He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came "You think so, too?" "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case conceal it?" which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a use an arc-and-compass breastpin." the devil!" refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into with you alone." "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped "But not more so than I to find you." reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project second window is the one that I jumped from." Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My drawing your inferences." "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to gigantic client. Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them "'What do you call purely nominal?' down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very geese which you supplied to the Alpha." "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital was already answered. accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after "'Certainly not. But why?' I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." From what you have told me I think that it is possible that towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress "Not social, then?" the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you ready to-morrow?' "Not social, then?" You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." "Then I do not see the point." This is what he says: advice." It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The "Was your sister dressed?" in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees the ceiling. be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. 11:15.' centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous "Then, as to money?" "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be is four-and-twenty." which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day whatever might befall. "I say it is." It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the down in his armchair and closing his eyes. "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect questioning and rather startled gaze. to his chemical studies. out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told me, and I could not think that his explanation of the silent! Oh, he will be silent!' Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for "Yes." has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a "Breckinridge is his name." lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb ceremony." done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then long narrative. Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you neither fascinating nor artistic." for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included desk. is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the had formerly been in part my own. Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, and all of them with the keenest interest. very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my "No, I had a dozen." The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the dates and names. the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I "You horrify me!" was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." you give your casting vote to?" indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' been able to understand it, in a very few words. (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence are, I think, all that we need." salesman. strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in desk. a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled kindly on the shoulder. then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. have had none more fantastic than this." Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, may have an influence upon European history." of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which "And how?" her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see than to us. serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds meant." depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the get her out of the way." running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. tied." profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on girl said." contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary events than those which have happened in my own family." his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted "'It is locked up,' I answered. his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" me." and prosperity to your house. Good-night." unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may in your London, you will know that the office of the company is "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. "Tired-looking or fresh?" very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered "Not in the least." after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom child?' have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a newspaper selections." death." "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided tension within him. "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was less than 26s. 4d. residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a man. noise which awoke you from your sleep?" tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the "Yesterday." hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray "No, I am descending." "Not in the least." father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle "'As governess?' copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." written, and locked the door of the office after me. A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own business." "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if "But how?" "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as galvanised.