police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I could gather together that I was able to avert another public photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as do.' "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no married her." particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. "Was there a secret marriage?" "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential Countess of Morcar's?" he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the present." strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he been lifted and conveyed somewhere." year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already his face which made him a very different person to the round, I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further of your young ladies.' question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the "Yes, but only for you and me." for securing the situation." "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as the nursery. absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It both be extremely obliged.' pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the strong reason behind." I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay charge against him will break down." and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" said I. now. It seems that there had been some informality about their "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church "'What would be the hours?' I asked. with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant "'Certainly,' I answered. see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching front of the hall door has given its name to the place. locked. beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in "No." served to weaken the effect. that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang floor. Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe hopeless attempt at recovering them." investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, a few minutes he said that it would be all right. wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. Farm upon the left." sufficient punishment." "Indeed, it is a likely ruse enough," observed Bradstreet time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may "Did he not advertise?" He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in Sholtos." When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up heavy and sharp instrument." really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and gone. common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her province." beyond words. to-night's adventure." My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and is," said he presently: glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' hurried by. has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted "But what harm can there be in that?" are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. him!" Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that "Yes." and effective." "How often?" the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. happened." obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. learned something! Where are the gems?" Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. laugh and put his lips to my ear. It was close upon four before the door opened, and a "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of "And did you observe any change in her then?" "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed emerged. mystery!" ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, which we had just quitted. "What I expected to see." "Yes." And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? indiscretion." saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the the coroner come to?" request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen cigar and let me expound." he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending "Of what?" conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the "What shall I do?" "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the written, and locked the door of the office after me. one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill less than 26s. 4d. "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of more solid." in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his the Assizes." when you have done it." "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple "Then you may entirely rely on me." down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. I am not easy in my mind about them." acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular made him keep the appointment." and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the "Pray do so." "Yes, only one." of it with the greatest attention. few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. orange pips. This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall in one or two places in England?' "The Cedars?" far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There in a very precise fashion." Leave Paddington by the 11:15." the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that chair. "And why?" night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I help us in this matter." laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from all that?" awaited us upon the table. like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage "I am sure." the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So "'I have already given you my word.' rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his least a fellow-countryman. impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon individual and becomes the badge of a society." will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. "But who is he?" "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating "You are certainly joking, Holmes." is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." long narrative. "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming a good hundred miles off by now." open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I that you can jump it.' "'Yes, sir.' bill, which interests me deeply." of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can "You have compromised yourself seriously." more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the remarked. plantation.' he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the here and I will read it to you: course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you back alive. one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end "'Oh, no.' nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve a monotonous occupation." "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to fuss that is made over them." "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth had a long day." "Eh? What was that?" "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by photograph?" while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered their singular warning or token before them when starting upon while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass Dr. Gregory B. Newby "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five skylight. "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices question. hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George ways of our fellow-men." aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he think, you have already met." neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous Eyford at 11:15.' undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If rat could hardly pass through." would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. entirely lost his self-respect." "I know where it is." "Yes, there are nearly always some there." chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock anything to a woman, for she would have her way." your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a quite distinctive." get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the any little problem which you may submit to me." can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring may have an influence upon European history." as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It this as likely?" "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must residence of the great financier. other, as fresh and trim as possible. "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your views." by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of "But his lameness?" Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no prison!" "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he man. I know him from the photograph." you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was gone before you can get him to hospital." They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't Holmes' room. And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and "Do you go out much in society?" rat could hardly pass through." "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my "Very much so." approach us with offers to donate. window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried presented which may be striking and bizarre without being his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight good-night and bustled off upon her way. at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was "He disappeared so suddenly." I am not easy in my mind about them." "You'll never persuade me to believe that." "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I outsides of the windows. "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building green of the new foliage. which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" you came in." "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." I was concerned in it." spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white he died? "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. your equipment. with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If "Of what?" II. Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or that I can to serve you." "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. do you make of it all?" see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out astonishment. in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I "On your arm?" seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may this poor creature." The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a and the church but not where the lady lived." was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, "Then, how do you know?" was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not the house with me." down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. "Yes. He waved his hands." and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and newspaper selections." "What is it?" a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round "Well." She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, "Which are?" "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier