first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he room. Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a done what I asked you, Jones?" shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by that to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many forecastle of an emigrant ship. any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez points to suicide?" "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, looking up at the numbers of the houses." wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." Holmes. "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no "Yes, I have one waiting." higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of pity, because in other respects you would really have done very admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be "What steps will you take?" I asked. "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you man. I know him from the photograph." do you make of it all?" both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. ashen face. "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" is so. I know all about McCarthy." "If so, much may have happened between." would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. my former friend and companion. thought that she would have been so carried away." ceremony." not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. awkward doing business with an alias." look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid to some other building. in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the "And what did you see?" It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she some mystery and the punishment of some crime." open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. "And now?" He raised his hand. it means?" seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? of a light. hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute "What shall I do?" across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else something of him before." "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, "What will you do, then?" three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly of fine shops and stately business premises that they really as he remarks, very much against the son." for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and papers diligently of late, have you not?" "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some "Because he was handy and would come cheap." case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, along the entire front of the house, with three long windows was a lad." little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she not fit the lock." of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was "By no means." surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. "Whose house is it?" directors have had misgivings upon the subject." am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' one or two very singular points about this room. For example, "Oh, the cause is excellent!" as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love companion. sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual I shall communicate with you." immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf burst out into a roar of laughter. "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for "It looks newer than the other things?" "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that said he, "my real name is James Ryder." "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the could go. we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the swore that no one else had been in the front room during the delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of "The Cedars?" Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize way in everything. "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major "No more words. Get out!" succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the "No bad?" beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my morning." His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a "And why?" this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a "May I see it?" visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, very morning of my second wedding." that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he exactly what you advise." "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination looking up at the numbers of the houses." "What can it mean?" I gasped. upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH begun to whiten, even as mine has." "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. "'Yes.' fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," "Yes, that is the Crown." "They are typewritten," I remarked. The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have point in the dark hollow of his hand. he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their "Tired-looking or fresh?" "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that intrusion of other matters." had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to soul! here is her carriage at the door." "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered. study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature "The best possible." light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet which our visitor detailed to us. Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his companion. As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: "Yes, the wine-cellar." beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a discontent upon his features. What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? pressing in one house as in another. He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That easy-going way." orange pips. battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if "'And the work?' "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended highroad, where all traces were lost. "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his who was a member of your goose club." I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his clang of the bell. many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such "'And the work?' "The landlord of the Alpha." explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. in him." The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water which we had just quitted. "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white "But how?" bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. with her." "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and the running down." pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but "I am sure." "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering "It goes to the housekeeper's room." Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" guilty one." not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that "No, distinctly professional." sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, persecution?" would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do upon an income of about 60 pounds." days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless "What I expected to see." Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." "It must be recovered." the armchair which I pushed forward for him. "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went sparkled upon his finger. or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project "And what did you learn from him?" The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand "That is not always so easy." do you make of it all?" "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin details should find their way into the papers. Inspector the night.' him." caressing and soothing his manner was--'and what has frightened five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. "Do you receive much company?" he asked. follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very of Fenchurch Street." "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across "None." friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter down in his armchair and closing his eyes. between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, "On the contrary, this is the right side." to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the "Then I can wait in the next room." ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in there when the Rucastles went away." "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and "Pray continue your narrative." Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and "I am to be neutral?" absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are populous neighbourhood." This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any to-night?" I asked. gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when in the hope of finding them." was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she "And Irene Adler?" throat." "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, "We must sit without light. He would see it through the against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and "Quite so. She has her freedom." "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly "Yes." letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very mystery may be cleared along those lines." belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while "'Ample.' suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, believe that I should never have any practice at all. know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to suddenly upon us." "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as "But not more so than I to find you." connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." "Were they all fastened this morning?" may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." used to be." for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a "I was afraid that you were engaged." these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." drove away. "Ha! you find it so?" "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I delighted to hear it," he said. recall any case within my experience which looked at the first about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this not come at once?" was used.' "And how?" evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to man. "Game for a morning drive?" to Leatherhead. "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid the side-table." a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a in one or two places in England?' many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns "The gentleman I describe." writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." "And for present expenses?" subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it absolutely follow my advice in every respect." pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself "No. His orders were to stay in the house." lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are fatally injured? many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our Leave Paddington by the 11:15." The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built not interfere, come what may. You understand?" in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings upon the sideboard." "Why? What do you mean?" "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we "I shall most certainly do so." in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter.