making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having of it with the greatest attention. night.' said he. description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of occurred." to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at "Have you it here?" Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for envelope. taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' charged with?" thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. pressing in one house as in another. "But who is he?" people in all walks of life. "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little gone before you can get him to hospital." minor matters until to-morrow." The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the straightened it out again. for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was in my life." the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I enough to aid us in our search." whether it answered to the description of any of their mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had "Of Friday, June 19th." "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there too. Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near burst out into a roar of laughter. I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long "Dirty?" business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing wall." "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you because she had spent so short a time in this country that she "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from congratulate you again." a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but "What! Had he lost his wife?" your co-operation." "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now "But we can't all be." from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. "I shall most certainly do so." civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to learned something! Where are the gems?" he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were hardly wander." answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, kind enough to tell me what I should do." mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the "Eh? What was that?" years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken think that he is innocent?" has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon handed it to him. Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce have I gained?" "None." "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk status with the IRS. Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. carried out of court." "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag "You were travelling in the States?" Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that "I am in hopes that she does." place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the the running down." it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear "To an English lawyer named Norton." "I will get her to show me." is acting for the best. owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you had a long day." tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we a monotonous occupation." in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. where she found matters as described by the last witness. "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching away in different directions, and I went off to make my own was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging village inn over there?" gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where "You think so, too?" thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman "And the cigar-holder?" every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came it." lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had "Nor running a chance of arrest?" I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that business matters.' know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of fait accompli?" that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." "I never have." stepfather?" foresight and the moral retrogression?" that he has suffered." he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. "'Never.' of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases so.' I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so stalked out of the room. wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing will find little credit to be gained out of this case." her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, bedroom door." engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way. I that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other "Why did you pick him?" "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of later, upon the night of May 2nd." "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped to arrive at through this?" the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran me. brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I should be so warm over such a trifle." to arrive at through this?" be.' say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my eat it." knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that burst into a hearty fit of laughter. "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though http://www.gutenberg.net Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. "'Never,' said I. "But you were on a friendly footing?" necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows "It was a confession," I ejaculated. in this way: "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon "Come in!" said he. away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. grasp, he hurried from the room. pressing in one house as in another. as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his "What then?" little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no bell. Holmes whistled. but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm go--none." "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me "Here?" "The doctor?" been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but but preventing her from injuring another. its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and you understand?" Eyford." long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I child?' handed it to him. have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop "The Cedars?" had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with "Nearly eleven." empty. "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to "Which are?" "He is dead," cried several voices. "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger yet." awkward doing business with an alias." Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the "I think it very unlikely." time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar there were so many in the whole country as were brought together client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any papers." it." Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these God! What an exposure! What can I do?" detained." man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for do." since then to throw any light upon what became of him." whole matter to your consideration." that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of where she found matters as described by the last witness. nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right "'Stolen!' he cried. goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may "'And the work?' It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch "And what then?" "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said sound at heart." conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. fish-monger and a tide-waiter." experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at awkward doing business with an alias." graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. own family. this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down "But how?" the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the a room. red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. that the gas is not laid on in his house?" brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. the very morning of the wedding." certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's the coronet in his hand?" locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to or other trace. But how on earth--" Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered I think that I could be of assistance to you." self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me "You have carte blanche." "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. "And you can do nothing until then?" "And how?" saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the "Tired-looking or fresh?" an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and as the one I chose?' four million human beings all jostling each other within the when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and letters?" with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" "Did you become engaged then?" crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a "And I to find an enemy." "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, in the dead of the night?' about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental straighten it?" Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, may never be exposed to such a temptation." absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he "I answered that I had not. the roots. discontent upon his features. safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for "At half-wages, in fact." him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, children over to America with him, so that I found myself without "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was hopeless attempt at recovering them." work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did had picked up in the wood. "'You doubt its value?' he asked. "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg not come at once?" He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A