drawing your inferences." "But his left-handedness." served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial been." strong and stiff." "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, with her." yourselves in at night?" "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, served to weaken the effect. she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. "'I have already given you my word.' "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it "And why?" INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I outsides of the windows. At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his I leave." "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and this man was intellectual?" there was no need for father to know." were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I means taking possession of that which another person has a prior you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a bird of prey. of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers key of the affair now." "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a of the efforts of the United States government and of the better opened the door, and slipped through. "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, of this gang." "'A dozen yards or so.' delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled it means?" hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser "'Is 4 pounds a week.' people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what derbies." conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. "Certainly, madam." minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must "I do." and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of even of instruction." young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' "That was it, sir." "It is no ordinary one." disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of strong reason behind." have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before "One of the highest in England." should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of be sorry for having acted so harshly." she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the You want to know what became of those geese?" The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great your room." retorted upon me, and I on you." mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. "So I am. Very much so." Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but your most interesting statement." The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of "Dirty?" the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is burst into a hearty fit of laughter. "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew "When did it break out?" "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away there was no need for father to know." Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove too. "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a it were putty." depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, you in yours." the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, himself to hunt down. them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land bird of prey. his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing to talk it over. "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has not within a twentieth part of the market price." "What!" he roared. dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just and the church but not where the lady lived." not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' "Thank you. Pray proceed." "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, "And from a noble client?" Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. distinguish the words: his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a Cross for the Continent." remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes enter into my head. in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" guilty one." "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our had no one to advise her at such a crisis." and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the photograph a cabinet?" was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad must compliment you." an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a hurried by. least a fellow-countryman. hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. guilty parties." "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his that he will be back before evening." "He disappeared so suddenly." believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." her also." so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. "Nothing?" examination of the premises, but without finding anything which looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of country, and eventually married, without anyone having a searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of "Perfectly so." unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the "'What then?' I asked. "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending the tragedy. help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a hands. are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems don't comply with the conditions if you budge from the office for and were ordered to this address. had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her James Windibank running at the top of his speed down the road. slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, returning from some small jollification and was making his way inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, "One of the highest in England." "How are you getting on?" "'And what salary do you ask?' your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my papers on the sundial.'" suddenly upon us." to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently "Has he come with you to-night?" and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as my special province." "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few himself in a perplexing position. been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. had formerly been in part my own. didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the "It is possible." despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time than was visible to me." explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which "She walked into the breakfast-room." fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. he. scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of frequently gained my first real insight into the character of newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, "Do you receive much company?" he asked. in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with "But to whom?" "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, breakfast." go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being been shamefully used." permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations "You have compromised yourself seriously." takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just gone. "The landlord of the Alpha." six. Come in!" may have an influence upon European history." laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was have had none more fantastic than this." opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble skylight. Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." "Upon what point?" and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea Miss Holder?" person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was Count Von Kramm." thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." "It is very clear." "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which him to go away.' time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small information in his hands the value of which he did not himself "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, ways including including checks, online payments and credit card which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the suddenly upon us." shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which in his power. "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted long narrative. "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after was once confined in the cab my mission was practically not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, manager. his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and "About a month then." retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could "By train from Waterloo." frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend have had none more fantastic than this." business matters.' villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I once more on the important position which you have been fortunate "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp and the whole place is in a blaze." She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a 1.E.9. bare slabs of marble. alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say beg that you will break it off." "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever anything to do with the matter?" friend's singular character. are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in until night should bring an explanation. are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The congenial hunt. of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through DISSOLVED. along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped "And from a noble client?" "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me bachelor.' Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the "Here?" you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not own family. "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or notes," he said. perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and it." long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was ceremony." butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City "Really! You surprise me." "Then the page we have seen--" civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my colour had been driven from his face. tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his get the tickets." "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. "Come in!" said he. that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a least a most suspicious remark." huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were point in the dark hollow of his hand. result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and maid will bring up your coffee." incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that I was concerned in it." to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had tell him that I know him to be innocent." acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than she might be summoned. "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and other, as fresh and trim as possible. misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself "None." upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, "But how did you gain them?" old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small nonsense.' strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper call the police, let the police find what they can.' it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." annoyance, but no jest. twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental advice." receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a you?' low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking I nodded to show that I had heard. my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the whole matter to your consideration." upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." house for five minutes.' heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. "We must sit without light. He would see it through the I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a