"'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" plantation.' "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our along the entire front of the house, with three long windows through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his "About a month then." "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy "You horrify me!" "You are certainly joking, Holmes." opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to "You horrify me!" put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of "Yes, only one." that threaten you." voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." "On Monday." "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you "Certainly, madam." opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story went to the Alpha were town bred." "You horrify me!" waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the "How did you trace it, then?" when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I "What?" not use it unless it is absolutely needed." Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about "And I to find an enemy." everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began "'You cannot say what it was?' perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to "BALLARAT." lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, "Where did you address your letters, then?" transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has explained, has got out of order, and we wish your advice upon the sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny astonishment. "Yes, it would be as well." "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few chemical work which was so dear to him. "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that purpose equally well?" he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the do.' fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would "It is very kind of you." baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon sentimental considerations in the background which would induce and it need not interfere very much with one's other X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a gone. "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in name is different." "We must sit without light. He would see it through the Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." ceremony." glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really Sutherland?" once more for Briony Lodge. would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock some mystery and the punishment of some crime." McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But "'Yes.' akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week hereditary King of Bohemia." "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." "'What are you doing there?' he asked. "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed long narrative. recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that "Proceed, then." remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: Doctor, of the paper and the date." "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it following enigmatical notices: arrangements." seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the might help us?" that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. the house with me." right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much I have it here in my museum." have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing newspaper selections." and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little shadow pass over his face as I spoke. "I will, Miss Turner." "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive foresight and the moral retrogression?" enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, closely." congenial hunt. in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective the side-table." constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in made him keep the appointment." away to you." low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" "But who is he?" presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." in a very precise fashion." lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. "It is true that I have been generally successful." were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my "Your French gold?" "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents allusion to a rat. my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I "But you can know nothing of this?" all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must eat it." "Yes." one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is both be extremely obliged.' black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. indeed happy." "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with the devil!" his knees, staring into the fire. them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it "Not in the least." you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others "It came here." "Yesterday." very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we "But he might be a bachelor." Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in minor matters until to-morrow." he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, exactly what you advise." framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith "If I can be of use." pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the seen the man in the road." opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to "It certainly sounds feasible." "You think that he is dead?" anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the "Very murderous indeed." gone. "What then?" "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms crackling voice. read it out to me." all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, is now desirous of getting those letters back." The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he "Come in!" said he. Gutenberg-tm License. 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's bore every mark of being an average commonplace British "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned copied or distributed: "That also I could fathom." Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I his face. he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate presented which may be striking and bizarre without being now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very the very morning of the wedding." a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying important." lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. affection." fluttered off among the others. deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic "'The work appears to be light and the pay munificent.' Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to The police have openly confessed that they can at present make words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my "And what did you see?" lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond "He slept on the premises." pity, because in other respects you would really have done very and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of "9th. McCauley cleared. means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the woman who has had her own way to make in the world. then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." flock.' "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the affection." asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a Serpentine Avenue. companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question giving me time to thank him. knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their you?" out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east such attractions and accomplishments?' fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the "Of what?" "Deserted you?" admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, formed some opinion?" "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered "I cannot tell." paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My go--none." his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been "How did you deduce the select?" at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found is entirely a question of barometric pressure." of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you redistribution. homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch might help us?" twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed to miss it." "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting conceal it?" cause to be." quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and "But I am all in the dark." a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. I took the paper from him and read as follows: extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. "I will try. What is it?" latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the of campaign. gone before you can get him to hospital." "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the The telegram which we eventually received came late one night gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see some terrible trap for her." diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat posted to-day." little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked "But his lameness?" look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at guilty one." the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, John Swain, of St. Augustine. of the efforts of the United States government and of the better "My private note-paper." her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and as yours." meant it for the best. his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the "It was an hour's good drive." finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. a little more before I quite committed myself. the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the again to the corner, still looking keenly at the houses. Finally "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. if she died from some sudden fright." imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is never to learn it at all." leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the there was no need for father to know." "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project hopeless attempt at recovering them." "I came to find a friend." across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she "And what then?" stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad one else, I think." as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources "I say that I have solved it." stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. "Holmes, the busybody!" which are rolled in Rotterdam." "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant "Come in!" said he. corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my "Witness: It was. Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' "'Quite sure, dad.' so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming shadow pass over his face as I spoke. girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in bled considerably." I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this "That also I could fathom." son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of help us in this matter." to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I "I think that I had better go, Holmes." "I would give my fortune to have them back." He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not fashion which was peculiar to him. which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in of campaign. side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our James Windibank. Voilà tout!" very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick,