his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of main points of my analysis." A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our leaning back in his chair. why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you think that any burglar could have done. his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such congratulate you again." you understand?" small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that "And how did you find out?" human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for cost them two and thirty pounds." when you have done it." mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he generous with you in money matters.' common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is tapping his fingers upon the table. "Two days later this same performance was gone through under light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." "Never." "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on "And why?" "Yes." ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let the matter." think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and envelope. "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said fashion which was peculiar to him. while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There despaired of." bird I ate is country bred." could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of the room while you explain this matter?" incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a "And I to find an enemy." you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and "Yes, certainly." attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my that that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He events than those which have happened in my own family." see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be "Then the page we have seen--" that I am arrested." there is a decided draught." as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar "What steps will you take?" I asked. as yours." occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that "'What do you call purely nominal?' "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your lids now and glanced across at his visitor. you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already "If so, much may have happened between." this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. depend upon your compliance." any." who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the "What have you to say now?" peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a there were so many in the whole country as were brought together What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly "What do you make of that, Watson?" wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my more solid." overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for charge against him will break down." "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the "Never." closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close undoubtedly my uncle's." handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even mysterious end." "The gentleman I describe." astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of prepare for the new role I have to play." "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." felt the room to be a little close.' end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of of." me where it went to?" as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of politicians who had been sent down from the North. everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? "Not I." as he folded up the epistle. reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be His name is Francis Prosper." "'What are you doing there?' he asked. had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his "When did she vanish, then?" back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a "'Then let me do so?' "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. that threaten you." "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the fait accompli?" handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. "It is solved." bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I "But what is it you wish?" and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly which are rolled in Rotterdam." your most interesting statement." Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. investigation." "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his "Witness: It was. in my life." "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar "It must be recovered." astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction he. when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is "But the mystery?" would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." "Very truly yours, "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a despaired of." room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him sufficient punishment." hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out tell them apart.' train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The case before our client came into the room." the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" on in his house." All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had "What! You do not mean bodies?" Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. "We must sit without light. He would see it through the Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. "Then I do not see the point." "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never habit of advancing money.' girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I records." "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the disappearance of these gems?" grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get putting in the horse. breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. spark where all is dark to me." fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending became a certainty. In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through written, and locked the door of the office after me. Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses companion. cigars in their mouths. Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and very old mansion. drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily James Windibank running at the top of his speed down the road. fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads the so-precious time, but come!' Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord you for a few hours?" test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have "But to whom?" we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." your room." "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in one of the states of the Union." is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." "You have but to name it." We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and "Where, then, is my wife?" six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face triumphant cloud from his cigarette. "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or Pope's Court, Fleet Street." loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end." said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to I nodded to show that I had heard. exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not house for five minutes.' typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport my special province." Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, "You have a clue?" "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would an introduction to him?" trifles." everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried my room." Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to disappearance of these gems?" counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with just ask you whether you had heard it.' "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been touch that coronet?' 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was "Where did you address your letters, then?" "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." rat could hardly pass through." But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I wanted for ourselves." a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" upon the shelf for the interim." remarked. derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than "At what time?" "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton had formerly been in part my own. house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the directly by questioning you." "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt yet." me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my becomes even more simple." The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able swore that no one else had been in the front room during the It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging him to go away.' "Murdered?" in his hands." even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the affair. your bag." corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could a few minutes he said that it would be all right. the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, hardly wander." "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a instincts rose up against that laugh. and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the some terrible trap for her." lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, to some other building. brain must have something in it." with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's through." 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able wall." and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was happened." Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." "'I am sure that I do not know.' He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads man. man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came "Why, what do you mean?" "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled drawing your inferences." inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, "I shall be delighted."