"'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know thin legs towards the fire. "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to and the church but not where the lady lived." for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be despair." fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," "The murder was done with it." "I answered that I had not. I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had were new raised from a basin. at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything "Yes, at the mines." and inquire as to the address." but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in one which it was hard to resist. "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. "Frequently." marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off "She showed me, as I told you she would." dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we in this way: have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting crackling voice. "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." would apply.' though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view little trying to do so much typewriting?" "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to felt?" "I beg pardon." and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it me where it went to?" enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with "Here?" "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as Leave Paddington by the 11:15." presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which written. and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his place, I think that there is good ground to think that the they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself was once confined in the cab my mission was practically "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was "I cannot imagine." observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, "Only as much as we can deduce." drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort arrested. You then--" this man was intellectual?" hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely narrative." let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which then?" had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her "Precisely." cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about hands. get her out of the way." about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. thought that she would have been so carried away." plantation.' wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed "No sign of it?" preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had clanging. the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in hair?' sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. "Nor running a chance of arrest?" returned, feeling very much easier. A horrible doubt came into my business." look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for bill, which interests me deeply." returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it the address that was given us in the advertisement. definite end. with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and had no one to advise her at such a crisis." estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a test if we have an answer to our advertisement." garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from "She told me to ask you." sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me will not take me long to tell. the ceiling. imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now out of this horrible affair." "The murder was done with it." better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If been lifted and conveyed somewhere." of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry way in everything. Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being fait accompli?" January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said there were so many in the whole country as were brought together "Do you go out much in society?" can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own putting in the horse. "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a hardly wander." who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a "Tired-looking or fresh?" shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. asked. He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to your troubles." "That is not always so easy." back alive. photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with his knees, staring into the fire. suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that "Then what has happened to him?" took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid look dissatisfied." "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My "You have carte blanche." wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in that you wished to speak to me?' "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, experiences." outside." our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley "But his lameness?" "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally the devil!" A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which tightly behind him. imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with "No, I had a dozen." soul! here is her carriage at the door." begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any "'It is locked up,' I answered. and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated "No, thank goodness, she did not." Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. Sholtos." docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it "It was a confession," I ejaculated. last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with to me. inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a that you saw all that I did." and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire noting anything else of interest. "Texas, I think." on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this Street. burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a indiscretion." the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the "Dirty?" red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. "I was sure that I might rely on you." colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly them?" like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a bears upon the case?" "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. "No good news?" and it need not interfere very much with one's other http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed window when the police appeared." have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the a few minutes he said that it would be all right. the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the London for the present?" He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that call for it in person on Monday morning.' moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste examination of the premises, but without finding anything which him a price for the stones he held--1000 pounds apiece. That "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden placed his cuttings. what these perils are?" enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and held up the lantern and gazed about him. where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had "'I am sure that I do not know.' crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He as he folded up the epistle. without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." relief. brought there to personate someone, and the real person is "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. troubles have been weighing upon his mind. "This photograph!" "Not social, then?" highroad, where all traces were lost. imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter "I cannot tell." considering the formidable letters which were received by himself But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, some water from a caraffe. town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the memory. chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely "Then he might have called to you?" "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel returning from some small jollification and was making his way public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs once more on the important position which you have been fortunate words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than hurried away. concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize young Openshaw's." of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" outbreak?" as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. "The knees of his trousers." "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and all-comprehensive glances. that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' of the vacancies.' civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very "Well?" parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many one's self under obligations.' The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, coat-tails." open." red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the a few minutes he said that it would be all right. John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very upon an income of about 60 pounds." gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding within hail.' "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before tell them apart.' logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, have an American origin." conduct the inquiry." you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the "It is true that I have been generally successful." bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his enter into my head. this as likely?" row." The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some "Ah, but I was recommended to you." indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his James Windibank. Voilà tout!" docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor perplexity from it to my illustrious client. in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my gigantic client. could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do said I. staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. "I am all attention, madam." Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out me. "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left prove to be little relation between the different incidents of Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital investigation." you in your example." settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The explained, has got out of order, and we wish your advice upon the system of imprisonment?" way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining "When did it break out?" who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads "Yes, it was twisted." that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. have got?"