only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out "'Oh, no.' that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let depend upon your compliance." like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in is acting for the best. sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that "It was an hour's good drive." Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely arrangements." had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. husband's writing, madam." was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," "It must be recovered." "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from "Yes." basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I "An accident, I presume?" carriage. It was a chestnut." prove to be little relation between the different incidents of your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps mysterious end." "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. who was a member of your goose club." reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside What do you deduce from it?" our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. "Can I be of assistance?" bonnet, and went out." said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to "How did you trace it, then?" The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott your co-operation." and glanced through. waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred "Oh, yes, easily." "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't again, where I was soon asleep. the coronet in his hands?" still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip certainly do as you advise." life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just leave you to your papers for a little." abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I I shall communicate with you." afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." you in your example." little adventures." plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain "Your French gold?" "No bad?" "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a would apply.' fled together." me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through absorbing." labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel "Ah!" you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end." "Not him." of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he "How many? I don't know." questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank least a fellow-countryman. here." John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. hair?' at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the the armchair which I pushed forward for him. cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." fear." made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through you?' Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so "On your arm?" of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want "Yes, I have one waiting." despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and think that any burglar could have done. struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened "Now, then, what's the last entry?" "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You "Nothing?" examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from read over the extraordinary announcement. side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, call it cruel." devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the noise which awoke you from your sleep?" practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a not, dad?" she asked. vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the the ceiling. passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark "My dear Holmes!" the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP My friend smiled. Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. have been better. It is all right." weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting golden eyeglasses. surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face "No?" was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, "In your heart of hearts, do you think that Neville is alive?" doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled very morning of my second wedding." When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." into the room. "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the husband's writing, madam." row." "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his but preventing her from injuring another. bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his "I never have." "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. you." Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical gigantic client. unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid obstinate." "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official experiences." hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler ill-usage at the hands of fortune. "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small his eyes and forehead. Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler Leave Paddington by the 11:15." into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, intimate personal affairs in this public manner." has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to events than those which have happened in my own family." "But your client--" enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun the coroner come to?" upon the shelf for the interim." it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover he bowed and left the room without another word. "BALLARAT." serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from quickly through a disagreeable task. other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." question. Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions "I beg pardon." go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward "What do you mean?" With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had leave you to your papers for a little." "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, head. So long, then!" play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the "Where did you address your letters, then?" done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. "What then?" to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a "A greater distance to travel." with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before through." "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing "One horse?" interjected Holmes. "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such "It is his hat." used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so "It is his hat." every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall evidence," I remarked. quick march!" narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste "Then I can wait in the next room." "What! a murderous attack?" round with crates and massive boxes. across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." "'Is 4 pounds a week.' departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at all-comprehensive glances. swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it not as remarkable as your advertisement." august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these "We must sit without light. He would see it through the order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very conversation I have gathered that they have been married about the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his "Absolutely?" and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the delighted to hear it," he said. "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. "I see no marks." madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your "You'll never persuade me to believe that." "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a look dissatisfied." "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a one of them." Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely a room. over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which some water from a caraffe. an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to held up the lantern and gazed about him. "But not more so than I to find you." "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, to tell." The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about furiously. and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut "But how could you guess what the motive was?" lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." see me here to avoid scandal." "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my "It is half-past ten now." "Well." This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and "That is not always so easy." plantation.' data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. society." forecastle of an emigrant ship. cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step "Yes, that is the Crown." money should be paid at once.' "But she will refuse." "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. questionable one." put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass "Certainly." left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we Serpentine Avenue. "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch was feeling which was the fattest.' "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, this poor creature." face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each "Not yet." had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the "How long did she speak to this Alice?" beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in eavesdroppers?' I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." one's self under obligations.' I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, "Murdered?" "I see many objections to any such theory." the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy