"None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of begun to whiten, even as mine has." with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You of a light. my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. "So I have heard." could gather together that I was able to avert another public solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a about here speaks of his kindness to him." "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my "No." individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this jewels which you have stolen?' from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers States. nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa of Mr. Rucastle's." written. been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a to where he stood hid behind the curtain. was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had off." by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he prison!" hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a this as likely?" them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a "May I see it?" four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we Sutherland?" before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the tassel actually lying upon the pillow. it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." closely." the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in since then to throw any light upon what became of him." league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master "How did he come?" hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do answered with a sidelong glance. of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." "Then how many are there?" think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me to his chemical studies. Street. fact, we may call it conclusive." We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever the running down." hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." constraint." "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. wedding?" sit on the left-hand side of the driver." round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal "That is unusual in a young girl." salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. here and I will read it to you: Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. with the outside air!" distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly the nursery. was used.' into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to other lovers by making love himself." one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. "Yes, it would be as well." wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save himself to hunt down. held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, a monotonous occupation." therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own "That's no good." money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the their singular warning or token before them when starting upon have not had my rubber." "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me again to the corner, still looking keenly at the houses. Finally "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope minor matters until to-morrow." And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have "I know where it is." entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of ill-usage at the hands of fortune. to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, remarked. "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate hard-headed British jury." "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to "What! a murderous attack?" "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to "He said too much." at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and matter." Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for hurried away. of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its beyond words. "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of "'And the work?' I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed to tell." "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my said I. "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the married her." rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he heavily into it. swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so putting in the horse. money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the hurried by. smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it Have you good authority for what you say?" house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair the man of whom I had heard. He appeared to be in a think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He fled together." "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a "Did your wife hear all this?" in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been could go. far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no "Pray be precise as to details," said he. overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from "Of what?" called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and you?" Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of be there in time for your coming." his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly "But she will refuse." object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George galvanised. note?" Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it "And I say east," said my patient. "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled said he. vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not pound a week." "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a writer." the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." "Yes." master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in to talk it over. convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell a room. to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray returning from some small jollification and was making his way away into the river." excitement. "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" hereditary King of Bohemia." very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard she used." therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, of the one which your family is now devouring." preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You formed some opinion?" Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear 809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email "'I am sure that I do not know.' loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do Holmes' room. daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with not within a twentieth part of the market price." of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a to have been novel and of interest." and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? "Not particularly." where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful served to weaken the effect. To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at is worth.' perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. call it cruel." Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up "No, thank goodness, she did not." the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, what these perils are?" who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and which our visitor detailed to us. generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that weapon." "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the the matter." hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, death." silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some it right.' floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his "But what will you do?" But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. from the brougham. observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I arrested. You then--" "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact "Not I." careless servant girl?" trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be your Highness to the police-station?" opened a pocket-book and took out a note. us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and least a most suspicious remark." always that they were such commands as a lady might with "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business useful material for showing traces. The double line a little Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter "Yes." "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. "We have tried and failed." certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He could not have written that. It is the German who is so horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running "That you are never beaten." the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the eat it." Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that point in the dark hollow of his hand. and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have here and I will read it to you: brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps "It surprised me." and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." families. Now for the facts. it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who matter over." "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" "Is he quiet?" have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish "That also I could fathom." "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, wedding?" six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from have established a very serious case against the son of the glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I "'I have already given you my word.' "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the of this gang." "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I "Awake, Watson?" he asked. chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" The telegram which we eventually received came late one night "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save "I warn you that they are very incomplete." "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were is a common subject for conversation. Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the written, and locked the door of the office after me. maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." "Perhaps I have." estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the views." your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, colour had been driven from his face. What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite back into the street. took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to what these perils are?" To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock