sparkled upon his finger. every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off you found me to-night--and running through the front room she views." hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his "Seven!" I answered. This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked "And help." heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming dates and names. obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained advice." to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington to arrive at through this?" august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an forbidden door. ordered fresh rashers and eggs, and joined us in a hearty meal. heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. awaited us upon the table. Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, "In heaven's name, what for?" grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the way: handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my "Do you know him?" another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to carriage. It was a chestnut." so.' is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of fluttered off among the others. face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been away in different directions, and I went off to make my own in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is wedding?" "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all "Pray do so." upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came returned to France?" "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. ourselves in the office." "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case the room while you explain this matter?" The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on simple cases which are so extremely difficult." 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the Pope's Court, Fleet Street." twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I "Seven!" I answered. tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I quickly through a disagreeable task. yards of it?' evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. present strange and interesting features that it is no easy sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow bedroom door." Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here call you and give you the chance." customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry towards the blaze. the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, time." "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he grasp, he hurried from the room. it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must "Not social, then?" "You saw the ventilator, too?" one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, all that?" with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had questionable one." finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the was once confined in the cab my mission was practically carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were "'I shall certainly be there.' and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for direction." you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not "'Why that?' I asks. known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." foresight and the moral retrogression?" the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary "This photograph!" I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch wife's character?" weighed down with some great anxiety. down in his armchair and closing his eyes. asked with his eyes open. said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like "You saw the ventilator, too?" "But she will refuse." coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up one of them." together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that again, where I was soon asleep. workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of bears upon the case?" another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining "Do you go out much in society?" "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. his forehead." the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." it." in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The "Never." dear old homesteads?" "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a large a sum as a hundred a year, with what you earn into the gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of in him." money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need away into the river." obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary hopeless attempt at recovering them." "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going promised to bring home. making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that how narrow had been my escape. "Certainly." whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their what is your own theory as to what took place?" "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. have not had my rubber." same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow fuss that is made over them." has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll "There are none." photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the had a long day." "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner just called myself is not exactly my own." in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if bird I ate is country bred." twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten much for me. I'm not rich, but still I have a hundred a year in know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from "Yes, sir." by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and this poor creature." digesting their breakfasts at home." "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how "What?" "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to may have an influence upon European history." point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the looking up at the numbers of the houses." glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in Eyford at 11:15.' sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my drove away. determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish "You were travelling in the States?" "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At bonnet, and went out." "I was afraid that you were engaged." "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of is entirely a question of barometric pressure." more terrible than the truth. "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this back alive. "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in infinite languor in his face. the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the points to suicide?" "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. the very letters. But what is this written above them?' to have been novel and of interest." his face which made him a very different person to the round, had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to "Oh, the cause is excellent!" Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work "What steps will you take?" I asked. with you?" managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that "I came to find a friend." deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was one else, I think." glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination himself to hunt down. after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I "You forget that I know nothing about it." sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend I approached. fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no bedroom door." beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped "Certainly." 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a "'You cannot say what it was?' "Get out!" said he. I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, in a very precise fashion." wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be is now desirous of getting those letters back." "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel "You were travelling in the States?" eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. Munro.' that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had chamber." "They are typewritten," I remarked. similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his "One of his hands." that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name to-morrow." "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed "At half-wages, in fact." was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in a room. its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's morning." used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little in this note: imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only laugh and put his lips to my ear. a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, "And what did you learn from him?" "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' "Yes, that is the Crown." streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. populous neighbourhood." jewels which you have stolen?' some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was this Miss Turner." scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which "But what will you do?" "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was "I am about to be married." "No?" that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to suddenly upon us." "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled words came to my lips. entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate distinguish the words: have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' indiscretion." sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. "I see no marks." reach." when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, that he has suffered." seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at "Witness: It was. quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter I shall continue with my miserable story. thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the what I may call a really hard day's work." the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious ventilator." To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation the little opening for the ventilator is." return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to morning." vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I or other trace. But how on earth--" much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a