October 9, 1890. Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, recover the gem." "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not "So I am. Very much so." photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes skylight. "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of Holmes rather sternly. which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and about. days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the in the dead of the night?' Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. "By no means." left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best me. You must get home instantly and act." death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. acquaintance?" Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his any more." you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was during that time.' possible that we could bring him back to her? until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography a room. from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and "But I have heard all that you have heard." and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some "Married! When?" "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But "It surprised me." rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions "Was there a secret marriage?" though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch public press." sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to "'Never,' said I. narrative." "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot sooner or later she must fall a victim. "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to "No sign of it?" was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air not interfere, come what may. You understand?" "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not "'What are you doing there?' he asked. went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make you?" firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not but preventing her from injuring another. clang of the bell. of the efforts of the United States government and of the better "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of "But it has twice been burgled." cause to be." been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the morning." endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and "None." "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action "Perfectly so." a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the might have a private word with us. whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this words came to my lips. fasten all the windows?" and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss that threaten you." is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to once more. animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and down. the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and rat could hardly pass through." pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his "Very truly yours, detective. "That's no good." think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the photograph a cabinet?" clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work in one or two places in England?' erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." kind enough to tell me what I should do." must compliment you." started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the "Really! You surprise me." maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to upon the shelf for the interim." fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of "Well?" it." property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked "It was." There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking "But she could not love him." "'A dozen yards or so.' must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his have got?" morning." "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and miles off. Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the she might be summoned. there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of directly by questioning you." green of the new foliage. "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps "I say that I have solved it." in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. how narrow had been my escape. building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and within hail.' fear." "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." article?" off." window when the police appeared." the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. the corner. "I have had nothing else to do." nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let "I say that I have solved it." "My own seal." and effective." week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by "And how in the world did you find them?" to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some whatever might befall. collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to towards the blaze. hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently question you as to those details which seem to me to be most indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to "That is also quite modern," said the lady. to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society "It is solved." "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" "And help." "So it appears." every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings one's self under obligations.' houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' "Six out and six back. Nothing simpler. You say yourself that the and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could know all about it," he snarled. business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. that I may have something better before very many minutes are of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that charge against him will break down." that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with of the one which your family is now devouring." The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent "I was certainly surprised to find you there." For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. "Look there!" said he. "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical Miss Holder?" over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. "'And the work?' "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, if only as a check to my own memory." 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be and a shock of very red hair. "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your photograph?" looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very written. "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could dead, shall be safe with us." every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of all that?" that you can jump it.' chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. desk. WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. "I shall be delighted." and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of States. "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The three of the beryls in it, was missing. "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which I nodded again. home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there Chief Executive and Director business came to an end." refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I papers must be those that are destroyed.' I was concerned in it." "Yes, it was twisted." someone who had been in Australia." can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed she to prove their authenticity?" order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss read it out to me." flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and "That also I could fathom." unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." fatally injured? "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had was a loud and authoritative tap. walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" here and I will read it to you: bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should "I have solved it." upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite round and wave him away like that.' "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. might help us?" closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really completely overtopped every other consideration that we both "'Not at all. I only doubt--' he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in garden below. passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of floor. "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." words came to my lips. and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of keep the flames under. Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed said he, "my real name is James Ryder." "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray "Yes." furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in "I am armed." "Could he throw no light?" "Yes, sir." "His face fell immediately. Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, bell. Holmes whistled. foot. erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in "But not more so than I to find you." any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, "That you are never beaten." to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as "And your father? Did you tell him?" the tragedy. after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if "Her father is very rich?" "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a are windows in it, of course?" however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my "Certainly." "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to colour had been driven from his face. then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and know all about it," he snarled. jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly "I say it is." dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings "Not particularly." "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I "I shall be delighted." and I shall be with you presently." most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is "What is it, then?" I asked, for his manner suggested that it was than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a which are rolled in Rotterdam." danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I careless servant girl?" astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one strength." myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself