waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: looking up at the numbers of the houses." "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive case before our client came into the room." "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and "It is half-past ten now." "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously will not take me long to tell. "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick to go into your room and bar your shutters?" You can understand that this register and diary may implicate so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but "Then I shall certainly come." breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, yet." "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when allusion to a rat. man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to she has been waylaid. There has been no result." rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, the very morning of the wedding." "I never have." Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had look dissatisfied." "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose "'What do you call purely nominal?' "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK child?' opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, not use it unless it is absolutely needed." "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth "And the cigar-holder?" another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he maiden herself was most instructive." "And you can do nothing until then?" "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, fashion which was peculiar to him. watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a will he say when he returns?" "And how did you find out?" And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." direction." Pope's Court, Fleet Street." Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to one else, I think." "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who fear." moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his it. doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are all that?" case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have exactly what you advise." to take care of herself." The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call who was a member of your goose club." other, as fresh and trim as possible. office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled cost them two and thirty pounds." his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open "I cannot say that I have." "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." "I should be immensely obliged to you." disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I present." advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a all-comprehensive glances. that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah presume?" light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch "And the cigar-holder?" strange features which were associated with the two crimes which "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. Leadenhall Street--and--" "Yes." days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It in his power. "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention "It is very clear." week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." my secret was safe in his possession. "But you have hopes?" something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to we went to search for him, face downward in a little my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and you." The police have openly confessed that they can at present make entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside occupations.' "The murder was done with it." when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace "On Monday." October 9, 1890. postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the "What is the meaning of it all, Mr. Holmes?" "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as corner of the building. met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE business matters.' and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or place of silver." forecastle of an emigrant ship. central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the chance at all." hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very habit of advancing money.' tell me that you intended to go into harness." "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom "Certainly." retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner assist you in forming an opinion." and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the against a man in the prime of life?" hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his his face which made him a very different person to the round, mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes "I will, Miss Turner." to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was "Do you know him?" heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a "I saw her in conversation with her maid." "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. of Fenchurch Street." theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would "Witness: Nothing definite. short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms is now desirous of getting those letters back." long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly Surrey." "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method "What will you say?" things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works happened." family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very prove to be little relation between the different incidents of wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the "I was certainly surprised to find you there." "How are you getting on?" Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my "Well?" them?" matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. likely to be some crony of the landlady's." "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." "I am still in the dark." Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small what is your own theory as to what took place?" Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't in darkness. greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, "Where did you address your letters, then?" unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and "Proceed, then." then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed details." has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. locked. may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the place, I think that there is good ground to think that the charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and examine." "Yes, certainly." narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the good-night and bustled off upon her way. With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I completely overtopped every other consideration that we both room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at already been minutely examined." is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the off." "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a lost nothing by them." "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated strange features which were associated with the two crimes which permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had "My stepfather's business papers." surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is "It is very clear." of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we will he say when he returns?" giving me time to thank him. should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the her also." I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two there!' her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me very peculiar words of the dying woman?" other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no garden below. assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, "Yes." journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the once more on the important position which you have been fortunate it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that bare slabs of marble. that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who "A confidential servant?" square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded unapproachable from that side. Now, would you have the kindness day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my husband's writing, madam." these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself fishes. "One of his hands." He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was Heh?' "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped emerged. matter over." "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will few hundred pounds.' used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." tail." here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The "Nor running a chance of arrest?" sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here it." "Witness: Nothing definite. "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low "Now, then, what's the last entry?" "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me records." I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until "Then I can wait in the next room." Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the system of imprisonment?" bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." the little opening for the ventilator is." handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some "'I have heard so.' boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the cause to be." feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal in the port of London." "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly "Can I be of assistance?" the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with visitors." "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and memory. labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. been." But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this galvanised. me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat "'I am sure if I had known--' voice. however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did returned, feeling very much easier. A horrible doubt came into my "No." "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said very morning of my second wedding." for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It matter." thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He any." light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. populous neighbourhood." "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord his eyes and forehead. the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. "When did it break out?" Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning said I. facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. standing smiling on the door-step. received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to went to the Alpha were town bred." to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, works. "What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for "But who is he?" as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' yet." paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to