and the church but not where the lady lived." shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. notes," he said. second window is the one that I jumped from." been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates foot. "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your easy-going way." the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right throat." think you a quite exceptional woman." "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. "'What do you call purely nominal?' compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, "Absolutely?" someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of never to learn it at all." after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a of his shoulders. very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of sufficient punishment." "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the have an American origin." overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked "Frequently." "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to "Witness: I must still refuse. what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a death." money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with long narrative. "'Where could I find him?' the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of "Then I can wait in the next room." distance from the station, and there we found the young lady "I do." most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself "I think that I had better go, Holmes." the man of whom I had heard. He appeared to be in a "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully breakfast and whispered something to her husband. when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of James Windibank. Voilà tout!" has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, to Leatherhead. mysterious business." "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from round with crates and massive boxes. "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late power." "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel "On the contrary, this is the right side." wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we "I don't believe it." police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an closing the door. "You will not go there first?" "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it on in his house." only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. "Where is it, then?" parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian the inner apartment." "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. o'clock is it?" possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and "Very well, sir. And this stone?" from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one His smile broadened. inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that said I. springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to handed it to him. "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. "No." of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my that before taking the final step I should like to submit the when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it meanly of me." With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up held up the lantern and gazed about him. between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we trifles." wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called the stable lane now." phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant asked with his eyes open. "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." sparkled upon his finger. the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a "'Very good.' surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. rat could hardly pass through." Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her "And is that all?" in the hope of finding them." go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his "It certainly sounds feasible." one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would Edgeware Road. business at Coburg Square is serious." streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, take the flies, but not before." "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they "Then I do not see the point." animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and the matter." important." as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might him, that man would not have given me such complete information "What! You do not mean bodies?" "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon "And Miss Sutherland?" companion. "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being "It looks newer than the other things?" and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. father's young wife. "I am about to be married." things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an "'Quite sure, dad.' look upon these things in a different way." another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after said he, "my real name is James Ryder." which it had come upon my father." little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the is acting for the best. not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are fishes. Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the "I warn you that they are very incomplete." the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his gentleman's clothes. "You think that he is dead?" reach." lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers "It was an hour's good drive." to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, the salesman. showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a "None." "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the Munro.' "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There "To an English lawyer named Norton." "So it appears." He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always in his power. is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the The events in question occurred in the early days of my children over to America with him, so that I found myself without but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but passage and a tap at the door. got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms this poor creature." be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved "What is it, then--a fire?" the Assizes." then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had "'Most admirably.' "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love was a perfect sample of the class. "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one showing my impatience. should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my "And how?" "What, then, did Peterson do?" A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," to have that photograph." attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this should be taken.' get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I bill, which interests me deeply." He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even "And now?" He raised his hand. that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, her also." on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates "You heard nothing yourself last night?" and shall probably return to London by the evening train." description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the quickly through a disagreeable task. it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in characteristics, but those are the more obvious." maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was "'What are you doing there?' he asked. "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few information in his hands the value of which he did not himself "We must sit without light. He would see it through the "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." or in danger--" the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice "And now?" He raised his hand. across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is garden below. waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke something of him before." success. hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him his face which made him a very different person to the round, and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, mystery." "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City "Yes, but only for you and me." "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave article?" "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" and laid it on the table. "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil "Precisely so. But how--" "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added James Windibank. Voilà tout!" "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' "You think that he is dead?" down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, notes," he said. at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography he. "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged look dissatisfied." rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have to have been novel and of interest." Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since noise which awoke you from your sleep?" arrangements." my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat results." in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend in your London, you will know that the office of the company is reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from to take care of herself." naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside this remarkable episode. "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the "Very murderous indeed." a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his "No, distinctly professional." light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. "'Quite sure, dad.' get her out of the way." nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my "One of his hands." some place of shelter and let the county police know what has "No." "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in "I am about to be married." anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." "The Cedars?" Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No all-comprehensive glances. specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a "'A dozen yards or so.' your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The "What can you not understand?" I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen "One horse?" interjected Holmes. roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person get her out of the way." indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently "Is he quiet?" "I know where it is." pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such congenial hunt. been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads "'About the same.' "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, never to learn it at all." "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. brain must have something in it." significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle "Yes." friends, not even his own brother. pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' feature." home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William meanly of me." "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you "He said that you could solve anything." registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I "You think that he is dead?" clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis "And from a noble client?" "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. man. I know him from the photograph." "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will "And that is--" writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. question you as to those details which seem to me to be most hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to