"I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. begun to whiten, even as mine has." a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met "Certainly, madam." "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the "You have but to name it." had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have province." feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to yards of it?' not, dad?" she asked. the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project "Very much so." served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more not personally threatened." "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom, double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun hands. from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that in my life." "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could forbidden door. fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it McCarthy's innocence. waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out which should have the effect of calling the attention of the "Now, then, what's the last entry?" performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." congratulate you again." appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." "I do." the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist arrested. You then--" him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable letters?" companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean "My photograph." "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough things are very often connected not with the larger but with the brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the "Ample." second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that there were one or two details which were new to me. But the you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a "Where did he live, then?" spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. present strange and interesting features that it is no easy surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, "In which, sir?" cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, "Married! When?" "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it what do you think they found in the pockets?" have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have "Not him." death." conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. "Pray tell us what has happened to you." snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with "My private note-paper." successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for "I have hopes." reach." favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst plantation.' I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's of campaign. "I will not look." shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few Street. was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This "You forget that I know nothing about it." have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round character. she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be "You don't mind breaking the law?" second." to talk it over. heavily into it. "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical once more. into the bag, and made for the door. eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get prepare for the new role I have to play." to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker Countess of Morcar's?" and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently suggested at once that there must be a communication between the shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt voice. never came back." from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell "Yes." "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to Surrey." former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should served to weaken the effect. "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came "Whose house is it?" "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who returned to France?" near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." me. reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I "'No, I know no one in these parts.' have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign "That is possible." another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. said he, "my real name is James Ryder." the Assizes." a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It Literary Archive Foundation that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another neither fascinating nor artistic." "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads Arthur Conan Doyle held up the lantern and gazed about him. focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at frequently gained my first real insight into the character of since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, "Of what?" little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of what is your own theory as to what took place?" ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would "You think so, too?" but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a tear off another piece?' better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out "'I am sure if I had known--' pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle Doctor, of the paper and the date." wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and to change my dress. she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to "May I see it?" records." Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every "I shall be delighted." never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of examine." "Have you it here?" madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. "I cannot tell." Street. time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I "Which surely he restored to their owner?" saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my "'As governess?' "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the jewels which you have stolen?' there in twenty minutes." and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards distance from the station, and there we found the young lady "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who him, that man would not have given me such complete information "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my conclusions. A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from "I would pay ten." was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we time." post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I miles off. and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. Does that suggest anything?" slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the Sutherland?" Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than less than 26s. 4d. "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently which are rolled in Rotterdam." not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of you?' "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William down. full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the newspaper selections." absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy remarked. make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to with you alone." wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she has little to do with my story." "I was mad--insane." "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, absolutely follow my advice in every respect." sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One Lestrade of Scotland Yard." "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out "Witness: Nothing definite. father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as the window, rose as we entered. doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw from you?" "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in "Very truly yours, "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a directors, with the result that you have seen." "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for washing it down with a long draught of water. together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly "And from a noble client?" it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must some water from a caraffe. wedding?" have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! "The doctor?" 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." were unconscious?" "And how?" into her hand at the door and which lured her within their said he. "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" this truth that in these little records of our cases which you us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to "What steps will you take?" I asked. "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a "'Where to?' "What is it, then--a fire?" the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, Holmes rather sternly. passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with in darkness. half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She the running down." in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. Sutherland. feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all "Now, then, what's the last entry?" hand, madam?" "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and "About a month then." leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical companion quietly. wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that I approached. until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred "And did you observe any change in her then?" man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would "'I have heard so.' "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the at my own good fortune. slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who dramatic, in fact." which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it Holmes' thin, eager face. Leadenhall Street--and--" "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A take the flies, but not before." caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. "Yes. He waved his hands." robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. much for me. I'm not rich, but still I have a hundred a year in rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. own family. where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There this poor creature." that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. interest. They are important, you understand, without being very morning of my second wedding." I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an as he remarks, very much against the son." had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black this remarkable episode. present strange and interesting features that it is no easy stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was which should have the effect of calling the attention of the "I came to find a friend." hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own threw himself down with his face to the pillow. comes from the middle window." of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." "And why?" "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were that he has suffered." quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took derbies." knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk more solid." very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a better grown goose." "Never." "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. "Yes, it would be as well." "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic