certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight which we had just quitted. had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and him, that man would not have given me such complete information "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a as yours." "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of not personally threatened." connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery "What is it?" "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. there when the Rucastles went away." given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it there!' face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to Miss Holder?" "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon hour." "Can I be of assistance?" is worth.' "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like the tragedy. every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy down. we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to the ceiling. looking up at the numbers of the houses." ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden and files of the old papers, following the future career of every brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. bill, which interests me deeply." Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No "Who was the criminal, then?" hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly "Why, what do you mean?" to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One where she found matters as described by the last witness. "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: records." And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the brought there to personate someone, and the real person is something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to "How are you getting on?" said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out roused himself from his reverie. "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover said he, "my real name is James Ryder." "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And "What!" he roared. would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that garden below. upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical purpose equally well?" stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds "And you thought he was pulled back?" time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, like that before?" case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to the night.' devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, furiously. "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable McCarthy's innocence. present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." is four-and-twenty." then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at "How often?" am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that "You are certainly joking, Holmes." exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, absorbing." "Game for a morning drive?" and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a been able to understand it, in a very few words. unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, completely overtopped every other consideration that we both "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that "Quite so. She has her freedom." his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to "How do you know, then?" "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two of fine shops and stately business premises that they really was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not been shamefully used." air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off points to suicide?" the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other exactly what you advise." he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found "Precisely." "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. putting in the horse. The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though me where it went to?" "To the police?" "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall future lives." I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are "No, I think that I'll take it." "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a "Then, as to money?" hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor helping a boy to put up the shutters. leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't during that time.' among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all to-night's adventure." is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the indiscretion." rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards think that any burglar could have done. cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. the devil!" I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad in. when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end." "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and the matter?" stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and "I never have." huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the "'How far from the body?' their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of subduing in the sudden gloom, and in the cold dank air of the Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the like that before?" opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to business matters.' was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." "It looks newer than the other things?" go from here to the Strand." the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny papers must be those that are destroyed.' "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, "And your mother is alive?" the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at the dangers which encompass me." said he. dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew some terrible trap for her." which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to tied." "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would "You'll never persuade me to believe that." "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were nice household for a young lady." companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if "But you were on a friendly footing?" said he. help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had The note was undated, and without either signature or address. done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, knowledge of the world." last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are photograph?" "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution intimate personal affairs in this public manner." to that open window." flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." "I am to be neutral?" "'What do you call purely nominal?' would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with "Can I be of assistance?" "How can you tell that?" agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going stammered. to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years "I don't say that. Perhaps." importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a "'And what are they worth?' I asked. "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to "I came to find a friend." arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes "In heaven's name, what for?" the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a few hundred pounds.' stepfather?" minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the Arthur Conan Doyle own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away photograph?" "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I "No." nights." details should find their way into the papers. Inspector "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something one else, I think." ourselves in the office." his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he "Yes?" my room." sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. think, you have already met." laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his "Yes, sir." noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it "His face fell immediately. twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I III. the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." "In what way?" asked Holmes. figure." lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, things are very often connected not with the larger but with the in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, carpenter." "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he "And Miss Sutherland?" more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the chance." snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing certainly do as you advise." Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at politicians who had been sent down from the North. which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" locked." he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my handed it to him. leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that "Yes, there are nearly always some there." instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of most important business. It is probable that he will be away all in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked of Fenchurch Street." but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the felt?" "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and a few minutes he said that it would be all right. imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but "Then you may entirely rely on me." sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that is now desirous of getting those letters back." "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He Lestrade of Scotland Yard." "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my trifles." there has been an enclosure here!" his grey eyes. indeed which he could not unravel. large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the in this way: after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will "By no means." He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the