side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and prove to be little relation between the different incidents of could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand "The landlord of the Alpha." "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great "Your French gold?" matter." fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small never to learn it at all." "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face "How are you getting on?" the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better "No good news?" think you a quite exceptional woman." the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under straighten it?" Eyford." feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp in the port of London." she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the appeared upon the scene." "Do you receive much company?" he asked. "We have tried and failed." "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with "Yes, sir." answer." been deceived." "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in in your London, you will know that the office of the company is laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt past. turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a them present such singular features as the strange train of determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always sooner or later she must fall a victim. with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. "'No, I know no one in these parts.' "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. we went to search for him, face downward in a little "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we "Where to?" neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, both be extremely obliged.' to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as one's self under obligations.' "Pray do so." what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding James Windibank running at the top of his speed down the road. that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon strength of mind to control. at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so arms and began to sob in a high treble key. the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any characteristics, but those are the more obvious." "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies already referred to. lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, "Yes, he did." pound a week." goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This you?" you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned highly," said Holmes. "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed stalked out of the room. see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." him." "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one "It may not come to that," said Holmes. the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the and effective." was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an "Was he the only applicant?" space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so "My dear Holmes!" said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could miles off. case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action at my own good fortune. charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in searched, without anything being found which could incriminate hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new "'I have already given you my word.' his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather "And Miss Sutherland?" weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on wife's character?" which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped electronic works to some other building. compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four good-night and bustled off upon her way. my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air "Come in!" said Holmes. the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United I held the little printed slip to the light. He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to asked. enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them congenial hunt. direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him "And your father? Did you tell him?" need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love "'Where to?' "Yes." "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. see me here to avoid scandal." sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate to take care of herself." "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short clang of the bell. Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be "Do you know him?" Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." "No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over would then never go into court at all." therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple your sleep?' "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire newspaper selections." snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom, "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in key of the affair now." "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began think, you have already met." the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a bled considerably." "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in chance." the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own that there was nothing in it, after all." "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only "Was the window open?" the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, off." a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the to have that photograph." room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed the loss of it. "Perhaps we may make them less so." "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by what is your own theory as to what took place?" vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a noise which awoke you from your sleep?" yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were hour." client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder cheerful." This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw residence of the great financier. "No good news?" of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an the tragedy. were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about to surprise her." making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress is so. I know all about McCarthy." me. convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the taking in every detail of the apartment. "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall developed." inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining kindly on the shoulder. reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue my secret was safe in his possession. that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. his knees, staring into the fire. he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I "I would pay ten." I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he much for me. I'm not rich, but still I have a hundred a year in completely overtopped every other consideration that we both Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we be.' screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower along the entire front of the house, with three long windows way: ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss outbreak?" "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and cigars in the box." stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a companion. "'Not at all. I only doubt--' "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in "Oh, the cause is excellent!" There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very you came in." on re-entering her father's house?" the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' but preventing her from injuring another. blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. "He slept on the premises." science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. sneer upon his pale face. "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." hurried away. "It certainly sounds feasible." cost them two and thirty pounds." allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner what is your own theory as to what took place?" quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary bird of prey. edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other "To ruin me." without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." "One?" Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. outbreak?" "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when appeal." "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." his face. "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in The King stared at him in amazement. applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but "What do you make of that, Watson?" "Was she in good spirits?" farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate in. in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though "Perhaps we may make them less so." but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have "And it is--" each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of "No sign of it?" a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence