endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." at home. into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug distinguish the words: endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of in your London, you will know that the office of the company is reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal "His face fell immediately. father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and "By all means." "Was she in good spirits?" "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution upon a handsome competence. "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be seem to you to be relevant or not." dramatic, in fact." when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" everything which you would wish to know." the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat "Yes, sir." house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for was already answered. the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether which are rolled in Rotterdam." envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the "No." "Yes, sir." as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in that, and I came down." your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers voice. from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran congenial hunt. On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." furiously. "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not approach us with offers to donate. scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a friends, not even his own brother. name is different." door?" Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from place no limit on the sum I may draw." sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am both be extremely obliged.' was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. words came to my lips. profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The During two years I have had three consultations and one small occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good "Yes, only one." you." absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that cigar and let me expound." "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and "So I heard. You have him here?" I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a criminal. We have already had experience of such." "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an "No, thank goodness, she did not." "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his During two years I have had three consultations and one small "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and the morning and make my own way in the world.' "Never." even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one way: "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime both be extremely obliged.' Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned official police." freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by sparkled upon his finger. central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You "'About the same.' "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five "Yes, at the mines." "The Coroner: What do you mean? to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I to-night?' everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary your only hope of safety." "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I lectures into a series of tales." Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic fire. You quite follow me?" unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, in the dead of the night?' heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable one or two very singular points about this room. For example, "It is very kind of you." "I warn you that they are very incomplete." some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of "And on what day did he meet his death?" this unhappy family?" and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself Pool. photograph a cabinet?" bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." gone. and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a will be renamed. actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door relief. the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at "But your client--" ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took "You'll never persuade me to believe that." lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long obstinate." "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises "I will get her to show me." about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies constraint." who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. rose-bushes. strength." to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which you do it in twenty minutes!' to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his or other trace. But how on earth--" "I am armed." glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." "9th. McCauley cleared. "Quite so." from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" feature." the date of his supposed suicide." bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, such attractions and accomplishments?' dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus examination of the premises, but without finding anything which "'Certainly,' I answered. "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate know that the truth is known." her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. "'Is purely nominal.' this truth that in these little records of our cases which you "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just "But not more so than I to find you." stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could as yours." distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl interests were the same as his." of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The read over the extraordinary announcement. his wife has ceased to love him." wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been 'please.'" "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I leave you to your papers for a little." certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about "I saw her in conversation with her maid." unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London least a fellow-countryman. business?" to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the danger is over." than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a said he. done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to passage and a tap at the door. "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is Henry Baker is a member." stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the so.' wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to have had none more fantastic than this." London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and shadow pass over his face as I spoke. home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. "Thank you. Pray proceed." as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on "Holmes, the busybody!" took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which writers could invent nothing more crude." of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is you for a few hours?" straighten it?" families. Now for the facts. "'About the same.' Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as secret." outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded said he, "my real name is James Ryder." Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of "A call for help, you thought?" Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the "And the murderer?" scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his just ask you whether you had heard it.' about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging of the way of danger. fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the highroad, where all traces were lost. was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair triumphant cloud from his cigarette. remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, "Yes, sir." "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to "Then, as to money?" from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really both be extremely obliged.' "Upon what point?" upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the "What will you say?" and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. strength." International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more again." "But how did you gain them?" Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with "I shall most certainly do so." and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never better grown goose." upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, "That sounds a little paradoxical." acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon The King stared at him in amazement. Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the "I see many objections to any such theory." "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for "Where is it, then?" "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps certainly not very gracious." compunction about shooting them down." "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the you?' actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if this Miss Turner." morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at get her out of the way." bears upon the case?" years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich gives a meaning to it." Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry tell them apart.' my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have "The Cedars?" step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the questionable one." "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." existence." finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass out of this horrible affair." a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My go--none." give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from like that before?" who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely he bowed and left the room without another word. "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a do.' shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. had formerly been in part my own. rose-bushes. they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door "And how did he make his money?" of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be anything to do with the matter?" "Who by?" "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there "A call for help, you thought?" explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." have accepted such a situation. The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an corner of the building. stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my posted to-day." am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now lids now and glanced across at his visitor. push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" not come at once?" of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the been able to understand it, in a very few words. characteristics, but those are the more obvious." into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. "None." search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and